Fidelity Investments Thursday confirmed that a laptop containing confidential information on more than 196,000 current and former employees at HP and its acquisitions was recently stolen from the company. The theft may have exposed information including the names, social security numbers and compensation details for the workers.

Though there is no evidence that the stolen information has been misused so far, Fidelity has begun sending out letters to all of the affected employees informing them about the incident and recommending follow-up action, a spokeswoman said via e-mail.

The laptop, which held personal data about participants in an HP-sponsored retirement plan, was stolen from employees who had brought it to a business meeting outside of Fidelity, according to Anne Crowley, a spokeswoman for Fidelity Investments.

It’s nice to know Fidelity follows such stringent security policies that allow such sensitive data to just “walk out the door with employees”. Where did these people go? Maybe they just “left it behind”? Did anyone check the local Starbucks?

Fidelity will however has stepped up and will reimburse anyone who may fall victim as a result of this incident… Which they should do anyway…

“If we conclude an unauthorized transaction has taken place in [an individual’s] Fidelity account as a result of this incident, we will reimburse them for account losses connected with the unauthorized transactions,” Crowley said.

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