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A government employee took sensitive material home without authorization

Sensitive information, including Social Security numbers and birth dates, have been stolen by thieves, after a Department of Veterans Affairs employee brought the material home without authorization.  The data has not yet been used in any illegal activities, the Department of Veterans Affairs stated earlier today.  Along with Social Security numbers and birth dates, some spouses and disability ratings are among the data taken.  The data in question was on discs that were taken from a residential home in Maryland.  This incident could be the largest theft of Social Security Numbers ever.  CNN reports:

"It's a pretty dire situation," said Rutrell Yasin, technology editor of Federal Computer Week, which covers computer and information technology issues in the federal government. "You have to hope that information is not in the hands of people who know what to do with it."

The VA plans to send out a notification letter to every affected veteran, along with setting up a call center.  The thieves may not be aware of the sensitive material that they have in their possession.