Via The Sun UK -
A computer hard-drive with 1.6million pieces of personal data about the armed forces is missing, The Sun can reveal.
Up to one million people could be affected by the scandal.
The names and private details of around 100,000 serving personnel — half the armed forces — are believed to be on the drive.
There are also next-of-kin details, 600,000 potential services applicants and the names of their referees.
The data can be used to steal the IDs of servicemen and women on the frontline. It is the worst information security breach to hit the MoD. And it is the second largest ever for the Government since the Datagate scandal last year when the Inland Revenue lost the details of 25million people.
It is believed the hard-drive was NOT encrypted.
New Defence Secretary John Hutton was last night “spitting with anger” about the loss, which affects all ranks across the Army, Royal Navy and RAF.
The drive includes passport numbers, addresses, dates of birth, driving licence details, names and contact numbers for family doctors and dentists, and religion groups. Officials admitted there is probably a “small amount” of troops’ bank account details.
The hard-drive belonged to the MoD’s main IT contractor EDS and was used by the firm — based in Hook, Hants — to test MoD computer equipment.
The drive was discovered missing on Wednesday — but it could have disappeared weeks ago.
A source close to Mr Hutton said: “John believes it is a breach of trust which forces’ personnel put in the ministry. EDS’s contract will be examined and, if necessary, heads will roll.”
An MoD spokesman last night confirmed the loss.
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