HSBC Blames Bug for Exposing Sensitive Bankruptcy Data

HSBC Bank says it inadvertently exposed sensitive information about some of its customers going through bankruptcy proceedings "as a result of the deficiency in the software used to save imaged documents."

Computerworld reports that HSBC Taxpayer Financial Services, Beneficial New Hampshire and Household Finance Corp. customers were affected. Data on forms that were filed between May 1, 2007, and Oct. 17, 2008 that may have been exposed includes HSBC credit card, line-of-credit or mortgage information.

The company says "a limited number of customers" were affected, and it doesn't believe any of the information has been compromised.