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IRS computers at risk of hacking, report says
January 13th, 2009, 11:20 am · 8 Comments · posted by Tony Saavedra, Register investigative reporter
It’s not as if they’re storing anything really personal, but …
Security weaknesses in the Internal Revenue Service’s computer system has placed confidential taxpayer information and financial data at risk of abuse, according to a report by the federal Government Accountability Office.
The report released Friday said that confidential passwords and user names were readily available to anybody on the IRS internal network. Also excessive access was given to people who did not need it.
“IRS did not consistently implement controls that were intended to prevent, limit and detect unauthorized access to its systems and information,” the report said.
Auditors said the IRS did not consistently employ top methods to identify and authenticate users; ensure that access was given only to those needed to perform job functions; encrypt sensitive information; and physically ensure the security of its computers.
“Until these weaknesses are corrected, the agency remains vulnerable to insider threats and IRS is at increased risk of unauthorized access…or destruction of financial and taxpayer information,” said the report.
The GAO recommended the IRS conduct a yearly risk assessment of its computer system and continue to beef up security.
In a similar report last year, auditors found 115 computer weakness. Since then, 49 of the problems have been addressed.
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Jesus, what next
I second that.
Every publicly-owned business has to perform this audit yearly, and comply. It’s because of the Sarbannes-Oxley (SOX) legislation passed after the Enron debacle. So your personal information held by McDonald’s is more secure than that held by the IRS.
And they claim the government isn’t above the law?
It’s time to shake out the IRS, but good.
It’s about time someone audited the IRS!
During another GAO audit years ago, the agency complained that the IRS was unable to account for millions of dollars. The IRS response was “our system is not designed to be audited”.
Try that one the next time you face an IRS audit!
Nothing will change, you people just keep paying your taxes & go back to sleep America!
Gee, and they’re after kids for having access to teacher’s computers…that’s nothing compared to such sensitive info of the public!
“Gee, and they’re after kids for having access to teacher’s computers”
um, why wouldn’t they? that’s a completely separate issue, and one I HOPE would be addressed, especially being that it’s a much simpler problem to tackle…
will someome hack the franchise tax boards system,arnold says i cant have my refund till may.