[Dataloss] Major breach of UCLA's computer files

[Dissent]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ucla12dec12,0,7111141.story?coll=la-home-headlines

In what appears to be one of the largest computer security breaches
ever at an American university, one or more hackers have gained access
to a UCLA database containing personal information on about 800,000 of
the university's current and former students, faculty and staff
members, among others.

UCLA officials said the attack on a central campus database exposed
records containing the names, Social Security numbers and birth dates
— the key elements of identity theft — for at least some of those
affected. The attempts to break into the database began in October of
2005 and ended Nov. 21, when the suspicious activity was detected and
blocked, the officials said.

In a letter scheduled to be sent today to potential victims of the
breach, acting Chancellor Norman Abrams said that although some Social
Security numbers were obtained by the hackers, the university had no
evidence that any of the information had been misused.

[...]

At UCLA, officials said Monday that the targeted database included
records for the university's current and former students, faculty and
staff, in some cases dating to the early 1990s. Others potentially
affected included some applicants during the last five years who did
not enroll at the university, as well as some parents of students or
applicants who had applied for financial aid.

About 3,200 of those being notified are current or former staff and
faculty of UC Merced and current or former staff of UC's Oakland
headquarters. UCLA handles administrative processing for both groups.

Besides names, Social Security numbers and birth dates of those
affected, the database includes home addresses and contact
information, officials said. It does not contain driver's license
numbers or credit card or banking information.

[...]


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