When Security is Just So Bad

You know your computer systems and Web applications are so wide open to hackers when your auditor stops his investigation before it's even one-fifth of the way through, fearing that some real damage could be done if he doesn’t start clanging the alarm bell.

That's what Fred Dunn, the auditor general for Alberta, Canada, did after undertaking an investigation into the security of the province's Web applications, network security, wireless access points and data facilities. Dunn had planned to test the security of 400 Alberta government Web sites when he started the audit in April but stopped this month after checking just 69. The reason: "Because they found problems that were so frequent and severe, they had to alert the government immediately so it could start to take action," according to CBC News.

CBC added: "It appeared intruders had already gotten into the systems, Dunn said."

What makes this situation more alarming is the response from the minister of Service Alberta, Heather Klimchuk.