Jobless benefits Web site adds insult to injury

[July 18, 2009]  RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- It's a shameless thing to do in an economic crisis. Jobless people seeking information about their benefits on the Brazilian Labor Ministry's Web were forced to type in passwords such as "bum" and "shameless."

Labor Minister Carlos Lupi is apologizing for the situation - and he blames a private company that created the site's security system.

Lupi isn't naming the company, but says its contract with the ministry wasn't being renewed, which may have prompted the pranks.

The insults were discovered after an irate user wrote to the O Globo newspaper about it earlier this week.

The site was temporarily taken down. But by Friday it was up and running - without the insulting words.

[Associated Press]

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