Private contractors revamping IRS computers committed security violations that significantly increased the possibility that private taxpayer information might be disclosed, Treasury Department inspectors say. An investigation by the department's inspector general for tax administration found that employees working for contractors or an experienced hacker could use the contractors' computers to gain access to taxpayer data . . .
Private contractors revamping IRS computers committed security violations that significantly increased the possibility that private taxpayer information might be disclosed, Treasury Department inspectors say. An investigation by the department's inspector general for tax administration found that employees working for contractors or an experienced hacker could use the contractors' computers to gain access to taxpayer data. Other lapses left the IRS computer system vulnerable to viruses and hackers, investigators said. In response, an IRS official acknowledged security problems but said the agency found no evidence to support contentions that there was a big risk that hackers could gain access to IRS computers or that taxpayer confidentiality would be breached.

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