Lost USB Flash Drive

sgx.saint

Hi.

Right, I'm kicking myself right now, I am almost a 100% sure that I have lost my USB Flash Drive.

I have no idea where, how, and when.

I am an idiot as the last items on my drive where sensitive bits of personal information. Including digital copies of every letter that I have sent in the past twelve months. This includes letters to creditors, my GP.

There are even scanned images of my driving licence. As I send this to bookies for Matched Betting quite regulary.

I am so worried that some unscrupulus individual might be able to either steal my identity or use the information in some other malicious way.

Can anyone recommend any tips for damage limitation? .... I am in the process of changing passwords on all online sites such as internet banking.

Argh, this is a nightmare and its typical of me to panick. Feel sick

albertross_2

encrypt it next time.

http://www.truecrypt.org/

If these are masters, then usb sticks are never a good place to store them, because they can be corrupted easily (and lost).

sgx.saint

No, their copies. Ironically, I have TrueCrypt installed on my PC, but just didnt get round to encrypting the drive.

I never usually leave sensitive information on the drive. The one time that I do, I go and lose it!

Any suggestions on damage limitation? .... Apart from changing passwords online.

Some suggestions thus far from friends have been either to forget it, chances are the person who finds it will just format it and use it. Or to the extreme of notifying the Police incase of potential identity theft.

I just feel violated as whoever finds the drive will know what I look like, know about my finances and know where I live.

Argh, I'm so angry at myself.

albertross_2

I agree with your friends, only a very small percentage of people are criminals, I would worry about it if it happens..

You might be lucky, and whoever finds it may contact you.

sgx.saint

Thank you for your replies.

I was thinking of registering with CIFAS and reporting the loss to the Police anyway.

This is under advisement from a Government operated site relating to identity theft which suggests doing the above if you lose important documents/data.

superjaggybunnet

It may not even be found!

Even if it is it may be by an old lady walking her dog and she won't even know what it is!

(sexist and agist in the same post - neat)

ilikefreethings

you dont need to be told that that kind of data shoulnt be stored on a device such as that. however, go to the police and have the 'incidence' logged just to cover yourself. take the crime number and keep it safe for a long time.dont think that after a few months everything is ok coz things 'may' creap up on you.
sounds very serious i know but more than likely nothing will happen - its lost and thats it- just cover yourself.

sgx.saint

Some good advice. I'll probably call the Police tomorrow to report it lost and advise them of the data contained on the drive.

I'm also going to register with CIFAS for added protection. Beyond that, not much more I can do.

GreenNotM

hi Sxg a long shot - but check any usb ports round the back of your pc or the last computer you used it on - is amazing the number you find left there....

And I hope you have been asked where did you last have it ? :rolleyes:

superjaggybunnet wrote:

(sexist and agist in the same post - neat)

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: very neat

sgx.saint

hi Sxg a long shot - but check any usb ports round the back of your pc or the last computer you used it on - is amazing the number you find left there....

Yeah, already checked that

*Sigh* I don't know.

sgx.saint

LOL.

I'm a lucky lucky boy, I found it in my shoe!!