Originally Posted by
Bart
The only flaw in your argument is your assumption that IT security is exclusively TSA's domain. It is not. Information technology security is the standard for all government agencies, regardless of their charter/mission. The same IT security standards apply to the US Post Office as they do to TSA, HUD, DOJ, DoD and an endless list of alphabet agencies throughout government.
Otherwise, you are correct: there is no excuse for this sort of lapse in security by any agency.
Never said I.T. belonged exclusively to TSA - I repeat: "Just because someone ELSE screwed up doesn't make it okay for TSA to do so, as well. And I say that as a veteran who's already been exposed to (at least the potential) theft of personal information due to government inadequacy." I explicitly stated that other agencies have screwed this up, too.
This demonstration of IT security issues on the part of an agency which repeatedly makes demands for personal data strikes me as them catching the whole crate of eggs across their collective faces. Want me to trust you with my personal data, TSA? Prove you DESERVE that trust, starting with proving you can do your stated job function first, for example. So far, you've proven you DON'T deserve that trust.