They didn't just lose data...

They lost the tapes holding the data.

Bank of America Consumer Data Tapes Lost

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Bank of America Corp. has lost computer data tapes containing personal information on 1.2 million federal employees, including some members of the U.S. Senate.

The lost data includes Social Security numbers and account information that could make customers of a federal government charge card program vulnerable to identity theft.

Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., is among those senators whose personal information is on the missing tapes, spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said.

The good news is unless not anyone off the street would be able to do anything with this data, unless they have access to certian kinds of tape drives and a million dollar mainframe computer.