A TorchStone client had his briefcase stolen while traveling to attend a conference. Of greatest concern to the client was the presence of his laptop in the bag and the consequences of someone accessing it. The client later recovered the bag but remained concerned that confidential information on the laptop may have been exposed.
As requested, we conducted a thorough forensic examination which proved that the computer had not been accessed. However, after further discussion, TorchStone learned that the contents of the briefcase had also included the client’s driver’s license, his checkbook, a letter from the IRS regarding an audit which included his social security number, and correspondence from his divorce attorney outlining how his assets might be divided.
It became clear that the greater threat to the client’s security was the information contained in the physical documents, not the content of the laptop. TorchStone’s pragmatic guidance included counseling the client on the importance of changing his behavior regarding the handling of sensitive documents and not focusing exclusively on how exposed he might be through technology.
