Representative Wants Technology Security for Devices

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thieves may have access to a flood of sensitive information on Oklahomans after breaking into a home and stealing a state worker's laptop.

Representative Richard Morrissette (D-District 92) is asking Governor Henry to issue an executive order banning the transfer of sensitive information through mobile devices like laptops.

The request is triggered by the recent actions which put thousands of Oklahomans at risk for identity theft.

More on News9.com: Another State Laptop Stolen, Information at Stake

"You talk about security measures and terrorist threats...and we have laptops that can be stolen out of homes and cars," Representative Morrissette said. "Enough's enough."

Constituents from Richard Morrissette's district are concerned about where their personal information, including social security numbers and dates of birth, was either lost or stolen after being stored on government hardware.

"They're all upset about taxes and money and stimulus," Morrissette said. "And now they find out that their names could be on a computer that was stolen out of somebody's car or somebody's house."

Representative Morrissette wants Governor Henry to issue an executive order banning portable transfer of that data, through laptops and flash drives.

"I'm not questioning the policy. What I'm questioning is the security measure about them taking this stuff out of the offices," Morrissette said.

In March, a flash drive belonging to the Oklahoma employment security commission was either stolen or lost.

More on News9.com: Employee Loses 5,500 Social Security Numbers

Last month thieves made off with two laptops from two different agencies. One of them belonged to DHS, which said security measures Morrissette is proposing are already in place.

Spokesman George Johnson said the stolen laptop belonged to a high-ranking state department official who needed access to that information because she was creating a program.

More on News9.com: 1 Million Oklahomans' Personal Information at Risk

Other employees entrusted with these devices don't have that access.

"We don't have a situation where people take databases home," Johnson said.
Governor Henry's spokesman sent an email explaining the governor isn't ruling it out, but suggested Morrissette write legislation on the matter.

"Whatever it is, we need to do it and we need to do it right now," Representative Morrissette said.

DHS has cleaned all of its' mobile devices to ensure they don't have any sensitive information.

None of the stolen computers have been found.