Once again researcher Chris Vickery has found another data leak… Right now no one knows who owns, maintains or is responsible for the data, but it is continuing to leak information that could be used for a variety of unscrupulous purposes (not just bugging voters). We do know that most of this information is readily available to anyone that wants it. We have been able to get copies of voter information in DVD form just by asking. We did not even need to do much in the way of explaining why we wanted the data. With this type of access common in the US (a few states guard voter data better) it is not surprising that there is something leaking this information.

What makes this even sadder is that the push to cloud based solutions and cloud databases (including medical records) has been so hard. We have been told over and over that our data is safe out there. That somehow it can be better protected in digital form… Simply put, it cannot. The repeated (and massive) leaks, breaches, etc. should be pushing people away from the cloud in droves, but it is not. We are seeing less companies moving from on premises to the cloud and this is a good thing, but it is not enough.

To force cloud providers to improve security they have to feel it in their revenue stream. Even regulations will not push them to do this as they will weigh the financial risks of being fined Vs leaving things as it is. Only when they are not making any money because their clients have left will they put the money towards proper security and data controls. Of course… since this is a US government database there is almost no chance that it will ever be secure and doesn’t that just make you feel good? Think about that the next time they (the US government) say they know what is best when it comes to the Internet, or Security, or Privacy…