Private Data Exposed By Hackers In University Of Texas At Dallas
Computer hackers may have accessed Social Security numbers and other personal data for 9,100 people connected to the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). This is the second time it happens to UTD in the past few years. According to school officials, it was unclear whether hackers actually viewed the information, but names, addresses, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers were exposed.
The breach was discovered July 12 by the university’s computer security staff. UTD did not alert those affected until Thursday because it took time to determine exactly whose data may have been exposed, officials said.
Students, faculty members and staff whose personal information is at risk are being contacted by e-mail and letter. The majority of those affected were 4,406 students who were on the Dean’s List or graduated between 2000 and 2003. The school also reported that information for 3,892 students who were contacted to take part in a survey by the Office of Undergraduate Education in 2002 was exposed.
The information was collected and saved before UTD stopped using Social Security numbers and began creating its own system to identify students and school personnel. The information was stored on a computer hard drive.
In December 2006, names and Social Security numbers of up to 35,000 faculty, students and staff may have been exposed to hackers. No arrests were ever made in that case.
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