Cornell Computer Theft Puts 45,000 At Risk of Identity Theft

PL/SQL Guy writes "This afternoon, Cornell alerted over 45,000 current and former members of the University community that their confidential personal information — including name and social security number — had been leaked when a University-owned computer was stolen. A Cornell employee had access to this data for troubleshooting purposes, and the files storing the sensitive information were being stored on a computer that was not physically secure. The university is not disclosing details about the theft. This isn't the first breach for Cornell; last June, a computer at Cornell used for administrative purposes was hacked, and the University alerted 2,500 students and alumni that their personal information had potentially been stolen."

Social security numbers are worthless

[Jimmy_B]

At this point, social security numbers are so widely distributed that the only sensible thing to do is to publish them all in the phone book, so no one will be able to pretend they mean anything. If a scammer wants to use someone else's identity to defraud a bank, then the black market will sell them cheap and in bulk. The real problem is that creditors are allowed to issue debts without attempting to contact the person whose name they're using, and then try to collect those debts when the scammer runs off with the money.

Re:Keeping User Data in a University....

[LaskoVortex]

I was once emailed word file with about 300 student's names, birthdates, social security numbers, and yes, user passwords for their university accounts. It was not encrypted and it was unsolicited--she needed help "opening" it. I promptly encrypted the file, deleted the original from my pop account, and then went to her computer and changed the name to have a ".doc" suffix. She was magically able to open it after that.

These are the people we entrust with our sensitive information.

I wonder

[Anonymous Coward]

how many times identity theft isn't reported, the high school I went to had a case reported that some kids had stolen the SS numbers from the schools network. I know because I was called in and questioned about it. I didn't do it, and I don't know if they ever found out, I don't think they did as no one was expelled. The IT Department was totally fucked though as a network with vulnerability like that was... well you get the idea.

              I was on the network and saw some teachers files however, so I wonder if some other kids got further than I did. I knew not to let my, "young curiosity" go any further. College applications, let alone scholarships were at stake and fooling around the network like that was not worth not going to college.

                My point being, this was reported, and the results were inconclusive, what if they questioned the person who actually got the SSN's, and he got away with it. I wonder if a few credit cards in my name will be opened up in Asia in a few years, or already.

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