Posted by SecExtra on April 07th, 2008

Just as it starts to go quiet on the “data loss on cd” front, HSBC has admitted that a disk containing the personal details of 370,000 customers was lost four weeks ago after being sent by courier from the bank’s offices in Southampton. The customers’ details included their names, dates of birth, and their levels of life insurance cover though it did not include addresses or banking details.

This is the latest in a run of data security breaches where disks, laptops and memory card have been lost. In the most spectacular example yet of data loss, the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) lost some computer discs while in transit between London and Newcastle. These contained the entire child benefit data base, covering 25 million claimants, including full bank and building society details. The discs, which were lost in November, have still not been recovered.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been informed of the HSBC’s data loss and is expected to mount an investigation.