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Investigation launched into loss of 6,000 patients' details

An investigation is being launched after nine USB sticks were lost containing patient information in public hospitals in Hong Kong.

The theft and losses occurred over the past year and meant information on 6,000 patients was put at risk.

A four-person panel has been put together, which will be headed by the former privacy commissioner Stephen Lau Ka-man, to investigate the data loss.

Shane Solomon, the Hospital Authority's chief executive, said that the sticks did not seem to have been stolen for the information on them, as they have not appeared anywhere, but more for the intrinsic value.

He added: "In the meantime we are advising our staff to be careful, not [to] leave USB sticks just sitting in a computer, because people can take them very easily."

Only 2,000 of the 6,000 details were encrypted, with the rest not even being password-protected.

SC Magazine recently said that many USB devices are still not encrypted, despite people storing sensitive information on them.

Learn more about managing endpoint security risks

About Centennial Software / FrontRange Solutions

Centennial Software was acquired by FrontRange Solutions (www.frontrange.com) in April 2008. FrontRange Solutions develops Service Management, IT Infrastructure and Customer Relationship Management solutions that scale with the needs of mid-sized and distributed enterprises. The company – through its FrontRange, HEAT, GoldMine, Enteo and Centennial brands – offers a unique portfolio that has been chosen by more than 150,000 organizations worldwide to help improve the effectiveness and reduce the cost of interacting with external and internal customers.

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