Ye Olde Register is reporting that Ernst & Young has followed up its February loss of four laptops with losing only one, but this one happened to contain information about nearly a quarter of a million of Hotels.com’s customers. From a joint letter by E&Y and Hotels.com to its customers:

“Unfortunately, the computer contained certain information about customer transactions with Hotels.com, and other sites through which we provide booking services directly to customers, from 2002 through 2004.

“This information may have included your name, address and some credit or debit card information you provided at that time.”

Maybe I should have given my itinerary to a globetrotting garden gnome instead… If you’re interested, Ernst & Young does offer an IT Security and Risk Management practice. I have to wonder though, if they’ve ever heard the phrase, “Eat your own dog food.”