Florida, Ohio and other states are trying to get sensitive personal data off official Web sites before identity thieves find it.

Privacy advocates say it can take months to remove Social Security numbers and other data from the sites, USA Today reported.

The newspaper said at least six states use redaction software, which digitally erases information.

Florida's Manatee County removed Social Security and bank account numbers from 3 million public records on the county's official Web site. Another 2.5 million court records were redacted before going online.

The newspaper said Florida was the first of several states to pass laws requiring counties to redact sensitive information.

A federal judge last month approved a settlement forcing the removal of Social Security numbers from financial documents posted on the Ohio Secretary of State's Web site.


Source : PostChronicle