I'll never E-file. I don't want my medical records on-line either!
Risk/Reward ratio just isn't favorable.
Taxpayer data at risk from IRS security flaws
Summary
The Internal Revenue Service's failure to use basic security precautions makes the system vulnerable to insider threats and attacks from outside, a new government report concludes.
Topics
The Internal Revenue Service's failure to use strong passwords, install patches quickly, and adequately control access to computer systems and information makes the system vulnerable to insider threats and attacks from outside, a new government report concludes.
The IRS has failed to fix almost 70 percent of control weaknesses and program deficiencies identified a year ago, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released last week.
Specifically, the IRS has corrected or mitigated 28 of 89 weaknesses and deficiencies found, but left 61 of them unresolved, according to the report.
For example, the agency continues to install patches in an untimely manner, use passwords that are not complex, and allows unencrypted transmission of user and administrator log-in information. All the while, it fails to adequately control user access, log and monitor security events, and physically protect its computer resources, the report said.
For more on this story, read Taxpayer data at risk from IRS security flaws on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 29 Talkback(s)
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wkulecz23rd Mar 2010 -
Maybe a noble thought it is an exercise in futility.
It seems to me whether we e-file or paper file our records are on their
computers. Doctors offices have their records on computer, same with
hospitals. Medical facilities are online, having been so for years. Recall,
for doctors to be reimbursed by the feds they submit their bills online.
Many insurance companies request online billing. I don't think we as
individuals can opt-out of that process.
Remember, our drivers information, banking information, the list is
never ending are all on computers someplace. Most have online access.
BubbaJones_23rd Mar 2010 -
One group has more information on you
That is Google. Why worry about the government when the biggest stock of data on the most people is on Google servers. And people just keep flocking to give them more.
jorjitop24th Mar 2010 -
More accurate if you do
Your tax return is entered into a computer regardless.
Once it's entered the only difference is whether you
entered the figures, or whether an overworked-
underpaid employee squinting at your scribble (is that a
9 or 4?) entered the figures.
Your call, of course.
snberk34123rd Mar 2010 -
Never e-file? Bad Decision!
All of the risks mentioned exist regardless of whether you e-file or not. Your data is at risk regardless of whether it's gets entered to the IRS computers manually or electronically. I would rather know my data got entered accurately (via e-file) than take the chance some seasonal employee fat-fingered something!
However, it does scare the heck out of me that they don't seem to be taking even basic steps to safeguard taxpayers' sensitive data.
Heck if I Know24th Mar 2010 -
From someone who knows...
There is more information available on the paper form than from the electronic image. And just like the electronic image the paper document is in file until it is no longer valuable.
windozefreak24th Mar 2010 -
Actually, your records ARE on-line
whether you have e-filed or not. Every tax record is kept in unified format. The only difference is that without signing up for the service, YOU cannot see your records...
But you don't need to e-file. You can still do it the paper way and VIEW your records. Then you will see that the records go back quite some time...
Mahegan24th Mar 2010 -
Your data is keyed in when you mail your return!
What did you think they did with the paper? It gets keyed, which means another human must read it. Better to e-file. Oh, and have you read the recent stories about (a very small number of) postal employees stealing the contents of envelopes?
dofzin24th Mar 2010 -
Over-worked / Under-paid...
THank you for my afternoon laugh. An overworked / underpaid federal employee..... HAHAHAHAHHAH. Oh God that's funny.
NetworkBankAdmin23rd Mar 2010 -
Oh My That Is Funny.
I have YET to meet an overworked gov employee. Come in the office @ 9am have coffee and bs sessions until 10:30 or 11:00 work for an hour or so have lunch come back work a little more have afternoon bs session. Well time to go home. And they are paid 30 or more an hour for this $hit. So how can i get one of these jobs.
MLHACK23rd Mar 2010 -
Oh well, maybe we have different ones then.
My experience is with the Canadian civil service.... my wife was public
servant for many years. I'm not saying that there aren't free-loaders
(but then what organization of any size doesn't have some dead-
wood?) however.... in the several offices my wife worked in the
dedication to serving the public was exemplary.
In her last job the unit she worked in (managing the funding of grant
applications for projects that funded homeless shelters) routinely
worked unpaid overtime, ate lunch at their desks, and worked their
b*tts off to get certain projects approved by HQ. There was no reward
for them to get these projects funded (despite HQ's initial rejection)
except that they knew it would help. Much easier to tell a project "No,
you haven't been approved." But, for a deserving project they really
went that extra mile.
No bonuses, little over-time pay, little reward outside of the unit.
Yep, my experience is different. Maybe it's a cultural thing.snberk34123rd Mar 2010 -
and as the history of public-private partnerships show
it was actually cheaper and better in the long run to leave private industry out of the picture.Mahegan24th Mar 2010 -
AzuMao24th Mar 2010 -
Obama Care
According to the new Health Care Reform act,
these are the folks that will be handling your
medical and insurance information. The IRS is
slated to get between 12,000 to 16,500
(depending on which pundit is talking) new
workers to enforce the new laws.
Deeee-lightful.
aureolin23rd Mar 2010 -
F***ing government
So, max your dependencies, get as little taken out of your check and stop filing taxes. If we all did that, what can they do? We have the numbers.
fuguein_d@...23rd Mar 2010
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