"What is a pantry boy" is the first thing that came to my mind as I read an article about a rash of thefts at the Commonwealth Games organizing committee offices. Apparently, RAM and hard disks were being stolen from computers (the theft of the latter could result in data breaches, and the use of hard drive encryption software like AlertBoot is recommended).
Apparently, this could be bigger than the case of a lowly-paid employee stealing stuff. There are accusations of embezzlement at the Commonwealth Games, which recently took place in India, and some believe that the theft of computer parts by this pantry boy is an attempt to get rid of evidence. (What is a pantry boy? Supposedly, it's the lowest station as a house servant, working out of a pantry. I guess they fetch cans of food...? I have no idea. If someone who's less US-centric is willing to enlighten me, I welcome their e-mails.) Anyway, an investigation into the matter is being conducted. There are also reports that it wasn't hard drives that the pantry boy had stolen, but just RAM modules.
Apparently, this could be bigger than the case of a lowly-paid employee stealing stuff. There are accusations of embezzlement at the Commonwealth Games, which recently took place in India, and some believe that the theft of computer parts by this pantry boy is an attempt to get rid of evidence.
(What is a pantry boy? Supposedly, it's the lowest station as a house servant, working out of a pantry. I guess they fetch cans of food...? I have no idea. If someone who's less US-centric is willing to enlighten me, I welcome their e-mails.)
Anyway, an investigation into the matter is being conducted. There are also reports that it wasn't hard drives that the pantry boy had stolen, but just RAM modules.
If this was indeed a case of theft, and nothing else, one has to wonder whether the hard drives were protected with computer encryption. While I don't expect these computers to contain national secrets, the truth is that every organization has information that they need to keep secret, not for nefarious reasons, but as part of any organization's workflow. So, was encryption used? This was not specified in the articles I've read. This incident, however, is another testament to the type of harm that be done by an insider with ulterior motives. Encryption is not just for those instances where there is a high risk of an outsider getting their hands on your data; it's also used to restrict access depending on need.
If this was indeed a case of theft, and nothing else, one has to wonder whether the hard drives were protected with computer encryption. While I don't expect these computers to contain national secrets, the truth is that every organization has information that they need to keep secret, not for nefarious reasons, but as part of any organization's workflow.
So, was encryption used? This was not specified in the articles I've read.
This incident, however, is another testament to the type of harm that be done by an insider with ulterior motives. Encryption is not just for those instances where there is a high risk of an outsider getting their hands on your data; it's also used to restrict access depending on need.
Related Articles and Sites:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Mysterious-thefts-at-OC-office-puzzle-cops/articleshow/6795688.cmshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Games