In the world’s latest data breach scandal, a former Hong Kong librarian has been arrested for allegedly stealing patrons’ personal information so that she could get her hands on their borrowed books more quickly.
Patrons were checking out books that she wanted to read, and the woman was just not having it, according to Apple Daily.
The librarian, a 25-year-old contract employee at the Tseung Kwan O Public Library between 2015 and 2018, reported their cards as lost and changed their account passwords so they had to return their books immediately, according to the report.
Over 100 people saw their personal information compromised, according to a government press release on Wednesday.
The Hong Kong Public Libraries conducted an investigation after several patrons complained about not being able to log in to their accounts. It is asking people to change their passwords as soon as possible.
The data breach also prompted the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) to form a task force to review security practices for library users’ personal information.
According to Apple Daily, the LCSD have so far contacted 86 of the people affected, and apologised to them for the breach.
Meanwhile, the librarian has been released on bail.
The lesson to all: don’t mess with your local librarian, or they’ll come for you.
