Gap, Inc.: Dude, Where's Our Laptop?
Just about anyone who lived through the 90's knows what The Gap is. It was almost impossible to escape their advertising blitz, and even harder not to spot people wearing clothing from one of their brands.
Life is generally just peachy at The Gap until somebody nabs a laptop with 800,000 personal information belonging to applications, not all of which became employees. Did we mention that the information contained their SSNs and wasn't even encrypted?
“The San Francisco-based retailer said it has begun notifying on Thursday those applicants whose Social Security numbers were included in the information on the laptop.
"Gap Inc. deeply regrets this incident occurred. We take our obligation to protect the data security of personal information very seriously," Gap CEO Glenn Murphy, said in a statement.
"What happened here is against everything we stand for as a company. We're reviewing the facts and circumstances that led to this incident closely, and will take appropriate steps to help prevent something like this from happening again," he said.
The company said the stolen laptop contained personal information for people who applied online or by phone for store positions with the company's Old Navy, Banana Republic, Gap and Outlet stores from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada between July 2006 and June 2007.
However, the laptop did not contain Canadian applicants' Social Insurance Numbers.”
Well, at least that last tidbit is something.
Life is generally just peachy at The Gap until somebody nabs a laptop with 800,000 personal information belonging to applications, not all of which became employees. Did we mention that the information contained their SSNs and wasn't even encrypted?
“The San Francisco-based retailer said it has begun notifying on Thursday those applicants whose Social Security numbers were included in the information on the laptop.
"Gap Inc. deeply regrets this incident occurred. We take our obligation to protect the data security of personal information very seriously," Gap CEO Glenn Murphy, said in a statement.
"What happened here is against everything we stand for as a company. We're reviewing the facts and circumstances that led to this incident closely, and will take appropriate steps to help prevent something like this from happening again," he said.
The company said the stolen laptop contained personal information for people who applied online or by phone for store positions with the company's Old Navy, Banana Republic, Gap and Outlet stores from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada between July 2006 and June 2007.
However, the laptop did not contain Canadian applicants' Social Insurance Numbers.”
Well, at least that last tidbit is something.
