By transmitting sensitive data without encryption, the Motor Vehicle Division is 3.4 million Coloradans at risk of identity theft. According to a recent audit, the DMV does not effectively limit access to its database. More than a year after their departure, former employees could still access the names, addresses, dates of birth and social security numbers. Auditors said the DMV system for the treatment of the data was "fragmented, uncoordinated and poorly planned," but the state has no money in the budget for the system update. The division is hiding the last four digits of social security number before they are transmitted, and plans to encrypt all information submitted in a year.
Colorado ranks eighth in the nation in per person identity theft complaints and first in the nation in the general reports of fraud. If you are concerned about identity theft, consider a protection service against identity theft.