YMCA laptop with 65,000 members' information stolen

The Providence Journal  tells us how yet another laptop is involved in a data breach. The statement by the YMCA referenced in the article almost seems to downplay the significance of checking account and routing numbers by saying that only a small number of SSNs were stolen. Reality check: with account and routing numbers, draining the checking accounts of all those people isn’t terribly difficult. I think that’s pretty serious stuff, don’t you? And consumer protections on checking account and funds transfers are much weaker than credit cards.

PROVIDENCE -- YMCA officials announced today that a laptop computer was stolen last week containing personal information for more than 65,000 members in Rhode Island, including members of the YMCA of Greater Providence and branches in Woonsocket, Smithfield and Pawtucket.

The information includes names and addresses and, for some members, credit card numbers, checking account numbers, bank routing numbers, and, "for a very small minority," Social Security numbers, the Y said in a statement released this afternoon.

The information on the laptop, which was one of two stolen from the YMCA's administrative offices on Richmond Street, also includes child care information such as the names and addresses of children in the company's child care program, as well as personal medical information for the children such as allergies and medications.

The thefts were discovered Wednesday, May 24, according to YMCA spokeswoman Michelle A. Riendeau, noting that the company waited to announce the problem to determine exactly what information was on the computers.