Bringing into question the privacy measures that organisations take when it comes securing equipment that contain sensitive information, it has been reported that five laptops have been stolen from Interpol’s Pretoria branch – and that they didn’t have any active security codes.
According to The Times, the laptops were stolen in two separate burglaries over the weekend, and the contents on the laptops are said to contain sensitive information pertaining to cases involving organised criminals from Russia, Ukraine and China, and a possible secret witness lists. Other items stolen include digital cameras and data storage devices.
One of the laptops reportedly belong to the arresting officer of George Louca, who has been fingered as the key figure in slaying of strip club Lolly Jackson. Louca is currently on trial for the murder after being extradited to South Africa from Cyprus.
The type of information that is contained on the laptops have, however, not been confirmed by Interpol. Lieutenant general Solomon Makgale did not want to delve into the matter in detail. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We are busy with investigations,” he told The Sowetan newspaper.
The Times added that backup of the data were made, but quoted a policeman on the case who asked what use the backups would be to Interpol now. “Yes there are back-ups of all the data, but what does it help when this and other information is now in criminal hands? Not everyone is happy with the investigations that are being done… there are police on the payroll of criminals and these criminals would love to have this information.”
The news of the burglaries come a week after South Africa’s State Information and Technology Agency (Sita) spent R10 million to recover three laptops that were stolen from their premises in Centurion.
While the it isn’t clear what type of information was stored on the three laptops to warrant a R10 million recover operation, Sita chief executive Freeman Nomvalo is adamant that the theft wasn’t a simple burglary, as he believe that the thieves were skilled in their chosen profession.
“You must understand that the burglary wasn’t a pure crime. It was done by highly trained people,” he said at the time.
[Source – The Time Live, image – CC by 2.0/hobvias sudoneighm]
