2.4 Million Ontario Voters' Private Info Compromised

An anonymous reader writes "Elections Ontario, an agency tasked with the organization and conduct of general elections and by-elections in Canada's Ontario region, is warning voters about the loss and potential theft of two USB sticks containing private information of 2.4 million voters from approximately 20–25 electoral districts. The information at issue is limited to full name, gender, birth date, address, whether or not an elector voted in the last provincial election and any other personal information updates provided by voters to Elections Ontario during that time, as well as administrative codes used solely for election purposes. The information does not include how an individual voted."

In Other News, Phone books missing

[retroworks]

I'm almost as alarmed by the sense of alarm. This sounds like harmless information. A ten year old hard drive is not the same as losing your current laptop, and being tagged in a Facebook photo is not as dangerous as having your social security information compromised. Maybe we should distribute useless USB sticks filled with past telephone book listings just to keep identity thieves busy..