Harvard University Warns of Data Breach

Harvard University is notifying thousands of graduate students and applicants that their personal information may have been exposed by a data breach.

The Ivy League school says a computer hacker gained entry to its server last month.

Harvard says about 10,000 of last year's applicants may have had their personal information compromised, with 6,600 having their Social Security numbers exposed.

Officials said there was no evidence to indicate the information, part of applicant data from the 2007-08 academic year, was stolen or had been used improperly, but that the possibility could not be ruled out.

"The university's initial examination did not reveal the full extent of the hack," Harvard said in a statement. "As the investigation continued, it became apparent that some sensitive applicant data, including Social Security numbers, could potentially have been accessed. The University has informed the GSAS community, and has apologized for the error."

Housing data from that year and the year before were exposed, as well.

The site was taken down from Feb. 17 to Feb. 21 to investigate the incident and improve security. Whoever was responsible has not been found.

******************************************************************
Amerindian Center warns about security breach
Workers' Social Security numbers, other data at risk

The United Amerindian Center -- a downtown Green Bay nonprofit that serves needy urban Native Americans with services such as transportation and alcohol and drug abuse counseling -- has cause to believe it is the victim of a security breach.

A letter from the center's board of directors sent earlier this month to the Brown County District Attorney's Office said a former employee may have had access to employee tax information on a center-owned computer that includes personal data, such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth. The letter asks for charges to be filed.

*****************************************************
See Prior Blog: Mission Improbable: Keeping Cyber Hackers Locked out of University Computers