Via the AP

Personal data, including the Social Security numbers of 28,000 sailors and members of their families, have been found on a civilian Web site, triggering a criminal investigation.

The Navy said Friday the information was in five documents and included people’s names, birth dates and Social Security numbers. Navy spokesman Lt. Justin Cole would not identify the Web site or its owner, but said the information had been removed. He would not provide any details about how the information ended up on the site.

Cole said there was no indication so far that the information was used illegally, but individuals involved were being contacted and encouraged to monitor their bank accounts and credit cards.

And this is most likely from the first incident in the latest rash of personal information theft. This is going to become more common and people are going to have to fight harder to get their information back. Lack of security is the number one cause of this and the people who offered an easy way for thieves to get this information are like the drug pushers getting the junkies to buy more stuff. We need an overhaul in data protection when it comes to our federal government.