| The Treasury Department inspector general has | | | | but were given permission to provide the |
| reported a | | | | information by the |
| distinct weakness in the security surrounding the IRS | | | | managers in their departments.The taxpayer |
| computer | | | | database maintained by the IRS contains |
| systems. Unlike the problems found with other | | | | incredibly valuable information. The hacks of |
| security | | | | Choicepoint and |
| systems, this one is human.The Treasury | | | | LexisNexus pail in comparison to a hack of the IRS |
| Department inspector general conducted a study to | | | | database. |
| see if IRS employees could be manipulated into | | | | Imagine a hacker getting access to the tax |
| providing | | | | identification |
| information that would compromise computer | | | | numbers of every person and business in the United |
| security. Treasury | | | | States. |
| Department inspectors called IRS agents and | | | | Making matters worse, the database also contains |
| managers posing as | | | | the name and |
| computer technicians. The inspectors told the | | | | number of every account kicking out interest and |
| employees that | | | | dividends for |
| they were trying to fix problems with the computer | | | | each taxpayer including bank accounts and |
| network | | | | investment accounts. |
| platform. They then asked the employess to | | | | The exposure of such information would be a |
| provide the login | | | | windfall for |
| and passwords for their administrative accounts. | | | | identity theft scams.The IRS has responded to the |
| More than | | | | study by sending an email to all |
| one-third of the agents provided the information and | | | | employees alerting them of the rules regarding |
| even | | | | divulging |
| allowed the inspectors to change the passwords.The | | | | information. You have to wonder how long the |
| IRS has rules in place that prohibit employees from | | | | employees will |
| divulging passwords. Despite these rules, employees | | | | keep it in mind.Richard Chapo is an attorney with |
| gave | | | | - a law firm providing |
| several reasons for providing the information. Some | | | | legal advice to California businesses. This article is for |
| said they | | | | |
| were not suspicious of foul play while others wanted | | | | general education purposes and does not address |
| to be | | | | every facet of |
| helpful to the technicians. Some employees were | | | | the subject matter. Nothing in this article creates an |
| suspicious, | | | | attorney-client relationship. |