http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3814163.html April 24, 2006, 1:16AM UT business school data compromised Some 197,000 computer files of students, faculty and alumni may have been stolen By JANET ELLIOTT Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau AUSTIN - As many as 197,000 files containing personal information of individuals associated with the University of Texas McCombs School of Business may have been stolen from the school's computers, the university said Sunday. Potential victims include current students and faculty, alumni, prospective students and corporate recruiters. The information includes first and last names, dates of birth, zip codes and Social Security numbers. No class schedule, transcripts or grade information was involved. "I am obviously concerned about this electronic security breach at McCombs, and its potential impact on all of us at the school," Dean George W. Gau said in a letter posted on the school's Web page. "I have instructed the school's staff to do everything possible to secure the school's databases against further intrusion, to determine the extent of the damage, and most importantly, to communicate promptly with every person whose information may have been compromised." A similar security breach took place in 2003. Former student Christopher Phillips was found guilty of accessing protected computers without authorization and possession of stolen Social Security numbers. University officials announced the latest breach in a general e-mail to students and faculty Sunday afternoon. Written notification will go out early this week to everyone with addresses on file at the school. "It is our highest priority to notify those who may be affected by this security breach," said university President William Powers Jr. "We have notified the attorney general and his Internet enforcement unit and are doing everything we can to protect those whose information has been accessed unlawfully." David Wenger, director of public affairs for the McCombs school, said computer system administrators first noticed a flurry of activity Wednesday and shut off one person's access. On Friday, efforts to download data without authorization from an external Internet address "came in to the point that it bogged the system down," he said. "At that point, they quickly cut off the access privileges and began investigating," said Wenger. It was determined that information was obtained as early as April 11. Wenger said the general notification did not go out until 4 p.m. Sunday because officials wanted to be able to report accurately what information potentially had been accessed. "It's been difficult figuring out details to the extent we felt like we could say something," Wenger said. Although no banking, credit card or financial information was involved, individuals are being advised to consider placing a "fraud alert" with credit reporting agencies, contacting the Social Security Administration and even filing a police report. The business school has created a Web page and call center for those potentially affected. (www.mccombs.utexas.edu/datatheft, 866-657-9400 or 512-475-9020). In its communications, the university will not request personal information electronically. Officials cautioned people not to disclose personal information in response to an e-mail, even if it appears to come from the university. Wenger said students should still be able to access their personal data on the web site. The university is in the process of removing Social Security numbers as identifiers on electronic records but the particular records accessed had not yet been remediated, Wenger said. In the 2003 security incident, the information accessed from the databases was not disseminated or used to anyone's detriment, officials said. janet.elliott@chron.com ----------------------- I thought I saw this article posted 3 years ago. Lock if reposted. I keed, I keed... UT business school data compromised
This happens more often then you'd expect. The Biology department at A&M had something similar happen while I was there.
I think I was there when that happened too, didnt an e-mail go out with all kinds of info to everyone in the department? I dont think info was a "stolen" per say..
Dada, you trying to draw rocketteen or IC2000 out of the woodwork? A&M does have computers. Not to mention that they've already switched to not using SSN's, which is apparently unlike UT.
when i went to ut i used to "compromise" the toilets in the buisness school quite a bit. (and i never flushed)
While this is bad, I guess, I have to chuckle a bit as to how many forms I fill out yearly that have my name, address, DOB, phone number, and ss#.
I'm sure they already warned you, but be careful with any e-mails you get from now on, especially if they ask for any type of information.
OK, this is weird. I'm a UT business student (I'm actually in the business school right now). Does this include credit cards too? I just tried using my Visa online to pay for a class I'm taking in the summer, and my payment was denied. It said the billing address doesn't match my account. I tried it twice, both times it said the same thing. I called my bank who issued me the Visa and they confirmed that the address I was using is correct. What's going on? Should I be worried?
I doubt it. Usually when I ha... I mean, when security is breached and all info has been gathered, there's no need to ask for more info. We already hav... I mean, they already have it.
For those people who are McCombs students or faculty, FILE A FRAUD REPORT with the credit agencies. http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/datatheft/ According to new info, There is an extremely high probability your SSN got exposed. As for alumni, your odds are less likely but I'd still file a report anyway.
