mcb39 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 A couple of years ago I purchased a new laptop. I then purchased a Targus laptop carrying case on Ebay. It was impossible to tell it from new. I had been happily using the case for over a year when I couldn't find something I needed and decided to explore all the pockets in the case. In an obscure side pocket, I found a Lexar 8G jump drive. Now this is really strange as I don't own one of those even though I DO have several, each of which has its own files and uses. I put the drive into my USB drive and opened it in explorer. Would you believe that this drive contained someone's Income Tax Return from, I believe, 2009. Now, here was the perfect scenario for identity theft. After thinking about it for a few days, I formatted the drive and erased everything on it and am now using it for music and payroll backups. Had this landed in the hands of someone other than a Tax Practitioner, hard telling what could have happened. Just goes to show that even though these are the most wonderful of devices, there is a danger in losing, mislaying or lending it to anyone else. I have since purchased a small zippered case just for the purpose of keeping all of my jump drives in one place at all times. I never worried about it before. I always "thought" I knew where they were at all times. Apparently, this fellow didn't remember sticking it in that small side pocket before selling it on Ebay. Just a lesson here for all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail in Virginia Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Too True! I lost one of my jump drives this fall when I gave a presentation for the local Edward Jones clients, but fortunately I had nothing on that drive but power point presentations about taxes. I do have a couple that I used for client data, however, and I have been even more careful of those since losing the unimportant one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelmars Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 you can purchase encripted flash drives that need a password to open. and after 3 attemps it automatically erases the data. We have a lot of clients in the same industry and even in the same buildings in NYC so a staff might visit 3-4 a day collecting quickbooks data etc. it would be a disaster to leave one clietnts data at anothers location. We use Ironkey that was developed for the military and came out about 5 years ago 2 gig wqas about $100. i know they have cheaper ones out now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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