State worker accidentally releases data while downloading music

SPRINGFIELD -- Investigators believe a state employee downloading music to a laptop computer caused the release of sensitive Illinois Department on Aging information.

A memo obtained by The Associated Press alerts Aging Department staff to watch for credit card fraud after names and Social Security numbers showed up on the Internet.

Department on Aging spokeswoman Kimberly Parker says the agency received information about the breach several weeks ago but it wasn't verified by state attorney general's investigators until late last week. The memo went out Monday.

The memo says the breach likely was caused by "employee error" during a music download. That would violate agency policy.