Ohio to investigate data theft

The state has hired a computer security expert to determine the likelihood of someone getting access to data on a backup storage device that has been stolen, Gov. Ted Strickland said Sunday.

Matthew Curtin of Interhack Corp. was to start his investigation today. The theft was revealed Friday.

Strickland also said Sunday that the device contained the names and case numbers of the state’s 84,000 welfare recipients, who face “a remote threat of identity theft,” and the names and federal tax identification number of vendors that receive payroll deduction payments from the state -- about 1,200 records. Sixteen of those records contain banking information, he said.

Previously, it was revealed that the device contained the names and Social Security numbers of all 64,000 state employees, as well as information on 53,797 people enrolled in the state’s pharmacy benefits management program and the names and Social Security numbers of about 75,532 dependents.

The device was reported stolen from the car of an intern with the state’s management and budget office.