Twenty desktop computers are missing from the US government department responsible for safeguarding technical secrets about nuclear weapons.

According to a recent audit by the Energy Department inspector general, 14 of the PCs were used to process classified information. The audit also found the department was using computers not listed in its inventory and one listed as "destroyed", the New York Times reports.

The National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) has a dismal record for keeping track of its PCs. The audit is the 13th time in four years that the agency has failed a PC inventory audit. "Problems with the control and accountability of desktop and laptop computers have plagued the department for a number of years," the report notes.

the NNSA's record would be considered poor for a low security environment, suchas a college, say - but it beggars belief for an agency charged with monitoring and countering efforts to steal bomb information.

Craig Stevens, a spokesman for the department, said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman "recognizes that we need to manage this place better". ®

Related stories

• US agencies cybersecurity defences are outstandingly mediocre (13 April 2007)
• Hospital laptop theft sparks concerns (28 March 2007)
• Security flap as Scottish council loses USB key (21 March 2007)
• Laptop losses and phishing fruit salad (20 February 2007)
• Nationwide fined £980,000 over stolen laptop (14 February 2007)
• ID theft fears over Hampshire hospital PC theft (18 January 2007)
• 100m US records exposed by security blunders (18 December 2006)
• Met Police in laptop theft security flap (22 November 2006)
• Ohio child hospital hack exposes 230,000 files (30 October 2006)
• Florida laptop loss sparks ID theft fears (11 August 2006)
• Security flap after US Navy loses laptops (28 July 2006)
• Laptop with veterans' data recovered intact (30 June 2006)