Hacker Gets Access To ISU Alumni Information

July 20, 2005

TheIowaChannel.com

http://www.theiowachannel.com/technology/4746729/detail.html



AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State University is sending out a warning to alumni Wednesday after a hacker had access to the alumnae association Web site.

A computer at Iowa State University's Alumni Association was hacked into, allowing outside access to thousands of Social Security numbers and pages of credit card information.

"It's becoming easier to attack systems with tools available on the Web," said Jim Davis of ISU's information technology department.

University officials are still unsure whether the hacker accessed the computer in search of the sensitive information. But they are saying it is possible that data was accessed and has been misused.

By tapping into the computer, the hacker had access to 2,031 student and volunteer Social Security numbers and 2,379 credit card numbers.

Kate Bruns, of the ISU Alumni Association, updates the group's Web site, said they were able to pull up a list of everyone whose information was on the server.

E-mail was sent out to members after the security breach was discovered.

Those who did not receive an e-mail from the association should be OK, NewsChannel 8 reported.

However, those with questions can call the association at (877) ISU-ALUM.


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