Figures reveal MoD data slip ups

Ever lost a memory stick? Not to worry - the men and women charged with defending our freedoms have lost 131 of them since 2004, not to mention the 658 Ministry of Defence laptops that have also gone walkies.

The figures were uncovered by the Lib Dems in a parliamentary question to the Government, which also revealed that five pieces of the missing MoD kit held information classified as "secret". Whoops!

And it seems the problem's actually getting worse rather than better. Of the 121 missing USB sticks, 22 of them were mislaid in the last seven months.

The Government hasn't said how many of the laptops and memory sticks it's got back, but if you find a cammo covered ThinkPad on the train seat next to you - you know who to call.

UPDATE:

Actually the MoD's now responded. A spokesperson told the Beeb that Several of the items were recovered almost as soon as they were reported missing but couldn't confirm whether any of the recovered sticks had secret information on them. It also adds that since June it's called back all 20,000 of its unencrypted laptops and is working through them now to add data security. We'll sleep sound in our beds tonight.

[ BBC]