Security's weakest links

Computerworld | Security's weakest links
Not a month has gone by in 2005 without a far-reaching computer security breach making the nightly news hour. Headliners compelled to walk the plank of shame include Bank of America -- the nation's second-largest bank -- Ameritrade, Polo Ralph Lauren, and LexisNexis.

Going, going, gone are the days when gross security breaches can be shielded from public scrutiny. The Australian Privacy Act and similar legislation elsewhere across the globe requires state agencies and businesses that collect personal information disclose certain security lapses or face severe penalties. Is it out of bounds to call it a sad state of affairs when politicians have to move in to protect what sterling IT outfits can't seem to stay on top of?