Security, security, security

This is almost a work post; it’s certainly work-related.

It’s the kind of thing that, given a slight change in circumstances, would make front page on The Daily Mail and The Daily Express – and probably a couple of other tabloids.

This morning, a couple of stops down the line between Warwick and Marylebone, a guy got on the train and sat opposite me.

He had a very large leather bag; it barely restrained the contents from spilling out.

He placed the bag on the vacant seat and removed an enormous file – of the ‘ring binder’ variety.

And for the next hour or so he went through the contents.

Even though I was sitting opposite him, with the writing of what he was looking at orientated upside down, and with my iPod in full flow (so my concentration wasn’t exactly ‘going full blast’ on the job of transposing the text), I was able to read, quite clearly, everything.

The file belonged to a legal practice.

It contained many, many papers describing legal actions before various courts.

I was able to read the names, dates, actions, plaintifs, defendants, courts…

Everything, in fact.

I know who is before which court tomorrow facing bankruptcy.

I know what action is being taken against which partnership in which court, the day after tomorrow.

And more, my friends.

Much, much more.

And I wasn’t even trying – for if I had, the chap sitting opposite me would have noticed, and would have covered his sensitive material.

Wouldn’t he?

Yes, of course he would.

I also have the name of the legal practice.

But my point is…

What is this thing, this barrier of impenetrable stupidity that surrounds people who take/work on sensitive material whilst on the train?

And why does it not envelop me in its all-encompassing cloak of stupidity?

Do people not realise that just one lost sheet of paper could lead to a breach of confidentiality?

No, obviously not.

For if they did these papers would be transported in something more secure than an old leather holdall, and would not be allowed to be extracted on the 06.12 from Warwick Parkway!

And yet this person worked (presumably!) for a legal practice, the name of which was all over the file?

Shouldn’t he know better?

Well?

Anyway, back to the invisible cloak of stupidity and being on the train.

I made a journey last month where the person sitting behind me – the HR ‘manager’ of a certain ‘Holiday’ corporation – took part in a long, long professional telephone call.

In which [sigh] she discussed at great length and in significant detail disciplinary measures being taken against two members of staff…

Names named.

Nature of disciplinary action named.

Company/employer named too.

Do these folk imagine that being on a train gives them some degree of invulnerability from the laws of common sense?

Or legal obligation?

Look people, the rules are simple.

Don’t bloody work on public transport.

And if you absolutely have to – don’t work on personal data on public transport.

Have you guys not even heard of the Data Protection Act?

Various government departments – in a number of countries! – have come in for major criticism over loss of data.

Can you guys not learn from the unfortunate experiences that other people have endured?

Let me help you here:

Brennig’s Golden Rules on working on public transport:

1. If you have to remove professional data from the office, just imagine that it’s got your name, your employer, your home address, your bank account and your children’s details all over it – not that of Fred Bloggs from the Sales department.
2. Scenario A: Imagine – at best – someone else caught sight of this data.
3. Scenario B: Imagine – at worst – you lost the file.
4. There are absolutely no exceptions to these rules.

B.