330K Names and SSNs "Lost"

Computerworld reports:

The hard drive had been accidentally damaged by an AICPA employee and was sent out for repair to an external data-recovery service in violation of the AICPA's policies, said Joel Allegretti, a spokesman for the New York-based organization. It was on its way back to the AICPA via FedEx but failed to arrive. Allegretti did not say when exactly the drive went missing except to note that the package containing it was due back at the AICPA "toward the end of February."

OK, so here is another example of data that should have been protected better. Why wasn't this data encrypted? And, IMHO sensitive data should not be sent through the mail (any type of mail - USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.).

The most ridiculous piece of this article is the statement made by the FedEx spokesman. His quote is as follows: "We did handle the shipment, and we are working closely and cooperatively with our customer to determine where the package might be," he said. "It is still being investigated. At this point, we are looking at it as a missing shipment; that doesn't mean it's lost."

So if it isn't "lost" then where is it? If you can't tell me, then it is lost. If you disagree with this, might I refer you to the dictionary for clarification of what it means to lose something. How about this: "to miss from one's possession or from a customary or supposed place." Gee, that sounds like what happened to this hard drive; it sure isn't in its customary or supposed place, is it?

It is bad enough when politicians stoop to double-speak, but when businesses don't step up and admit to their mistakes in clear, ungarbled verbiage, then maybe it is time to take our business elsewhere.

Of course, that's just my opinion... what do you think?