Lost MoD drive may hold details on 1.7 mln people

By Tim Castle

LONDON (Reuters) - A missing Ministry of Defence computer drive could contain details of as many as 1.7 million people who had shown interest in joining the armed forces.

The drive, reported missing last Wednesday by IT contractor EDS, was used with a recruitment system.

Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said on Monday that "in the worst case" the drive could hold details of 1.7 million people.

For casual inquirers this would be no more than their name and contact details.

"But for those who applied to join the forces, more extensive personal data may be held," Ainsworth said in a written statement to parliament.

In some cases this would include data such as bank details, passport, National Insurance and National Health Service numbers, driver's licence information and details of next of kin.

Ainsworth said EDS believed it unlikely the data was encrypted, as the drive had been held in a secure area at its premises in Hook, Hampshire.

He said banks had been informed so they could monitor accounts for unauthorised access.