Hundreds of computers missing from DPS

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Hundreds of computers are classified as missing or stolen from the Texas Department of Public Safety . The department classified 175 computers as missing and 25 as stolen during the past two years.

The total loss to DPS is more than $380,000.

An Austin News investigation revealed that in May 2009, a vehicle belonging to DPS and assigned to a member of the Governor’s Protective Detail, was burglarized in the trooper’s Hays County driveway. The thief stole a DPS-issued laptop computer and a binder full of information about the travel schedules of Gov. Rick Perry and First Lady Anita Perry, along with 22 members of their Protective Detail staff. The binder also contained home addresses for several law enforcement officers across the state of Texas.

In an incident report about the case from Hays County Sheriff’s Office, the trooper said there was no sensitive information contained in the laptop. Instead, that information was stored on an external drive and the computer was password-protected. The binder was later recovered along the frontage road of Interstate 35.

“That information in the wrong hands could cause a lot of harm,” said Scott Henson, who authors the blog, Grits for Breakfast, and routinely writes about law enforcement issues. “This is a new problem, but they have to confront it. When you look at the details of what’s on these computers, you’re almost always going to find information that if it gets into the wrong hands it could be damaging.”

DPS officials insists sensitive information is stored on encrypted thumb drives or on the secure DPS network. They said all employees are encouraged to protect sensitive information with passwords. Several of the stolen computers belonged to the DPS Criminal Investigations Division and two were missing from the DPS crime lab.

“Officers inevitably are using these for their case write-ups, for keeping information about their ongoing investigations, especially at the DPS criminal law enforcement division,” said Henson.

Only some DPS-issued computers have GPS tracking devices, even though the technology is available.

“There’s no question -- losing your laptop in this day and age is like losing your wallet,” said Abigail Maines, with Austin computer security company, Absolute Software.

The company sells the LoJack for Laptops software which tracks a stolen device through Wi-fi, GPS and straight IP tracking.

“Even if a thief reformats the hard drive, which is a common thing your might hear a thief do, we self-heal,” said Maines. “We actually reinstall ourselves automatically.”

The device is installed on computers in Austin, Round Rock and Leander schools, but not in any local law enforcement agencies.

In an e-mail sent to Austin News, a DPS spokeswoman said the department is working hard to implement policies that secure their property and information.

“Employees are held accountable for failing to adequately secure equipment from theft,” said spokesperson Tela Mange in the statement. “When an employee is at fault for their weapon or laptop being stolen, they have to reimburse the department.”

Click here to see the data on missing DPS computers.