Prime Minister Gordon Brown has tried to reassure Britons that their personal details are safe after one of the biggest security breaches in the country's history--that's the loss of two computer disks containing details about almost half the population.
"I profoundly regret and apologise for the inconvenience and worries that have been caused to millions of families that receive child benefits. When mistakes that happen in enforcing procedures we have a duty to do everything that we can to protect the public."
Experts said the loss left millions of people exposed to identity theft and bank fraud.
Richard Cook IV from the British Bankers Association advised consumers to remain vigilant and always check their bank statements.
"If you have any concerns contact your bank and you have the reassurance that if you are the innocent victim of fraud the Banking Code will cover that loss."
The disks bearing addresses, bank account numbers and other details of about 25 million people, almost half the British population, were popped into internal government mail and never arrived.
Officials said the disks were password protected but the information on them was not encrypted.
While police had already been involved in a hunt for the missing disks, banks would also look for signs of suspicious activity.
Technology experts said it revealed fundamental flaws in the government's plan to keep more and more information about citizens on centralised databases.
