by Gerrick Brenner
RALEIGH—A state government agency has hundreds of thousands of
sensitive Social Security numbers listed for all to see on it's Web
site.
"We didn't collect them. They have been given to us by a third party," said N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.
She
says banks and other lenders have mistakenly included the sensitive
numbers on public loan documents, which are used to judge applications
for business loans.
But the Web site is not coming down immediately.
"That
would be unacceptable to the financial institutions of this state, of
this country," Marshall said. "It could drive up interest rates."
Instead, state lawmakers are giving Marshall's office a year to clear up the mess.
"It's way too long," said Rob Thompson of the N.C. Public Interest Research Group. "It's basically a year-long security breach."
Social
Security numbers on the Web site once included those of some lawmakers,
like the state Senate's second-most powerful leader, Tony Rand. His
number has since been erased.
But
thousands of others are still there, and will be for months. The owners
likely have no idea. Those who are wondering are urged to check the
Secretary of State's Web site. If you find your name, you can call
their office at 919-807-2219.
"Give us a call," Marshall said. "And we will go straight to that document and redact the Social Security number."
