My home state, Oklahoma, is having a very bad year. Back in April, state government agencies breached 1.3 million Oklahomans (that’s about 1/3 of the population) via two laptop thefts. This month, a prominent, key corporation in the state, Williams Cos. Inc., announced the theft of a laptop computer containing names, birth dates, Social Security Numbers, and compensation data for every employee since January 1, 2007. Reportedly, 4,400 people are affected.

The computer was “password protected” and, as we all know, that means nothing if the thief (or more likely his buyer) wants the data.

Though it is sad to read about more “home state” breaches, one bright spot here is that the company did report and act quickly. That actually can make a huge difference in the damage from a breach.