Security leak makes phone numbers public
Thursday 13 August 2009
The telephone numbers of thousands of public figures, including anti-immigration MP Geert Wilders, were openly accessible online because of a leak in the security system of regional press agency GPD, report various media on Thursday morning.
The leak was discovered by the technology website Tweakers. The numbers are stored on a database for journalists working for the press agency.
Although a password is needed to access the database, it was ‘not difficult’ to find the telephone numbers and other personal information using the Google search function, Tweakers tells the Telegraaf.
The GPD has admitted the mistake and says its database is no longer accessible to the public.
According to the Volkskrant even the phone number of prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende was easy to find via the GPD database – albeit an old one.
© DutchNews.nl
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Thursday: Cold with sunny spells and light snow possible. Heavy frost at night. More sun Friday
This is totally inexcusable and dangerous! I would be so angry if I was a public official and my personal information was leaked. I would sue the crap out of whoever was responsible for the leak!
By sandra | August 13, 2009 8:13 AM