UMaine counseling center servers breached
The University of Maine is investigating a data breach that has exposed students and alumni who sought services at its Orono counseling center to identity fraud.
Hackers gained access to Social Security numbers, dates of birth and even sensitive clinical information belonging to more than 4,500 current and former students who used the facility between Aug. 8, 2002, and June 12 of this year, the Bangor Daily News reported. Two computer servers at the center were hacked on March 4, and the breach was discovered on June 16 when staff ran into difficulty accessing records. Investigators have found no signs that data were viewed, compromised or downloaded from the servers, but the university is treating the breach as a worst-case scenario, Vice President for Student Affairs Robert Dana said at a press conference yesterday. UMaine has enlisted a Texas firm, Debix, to monitor any resulting identity theft or fraudulent activity. The cost of dealing with the breach is estimated at $75,000, according to the paper.
The university's announcement came on the heels of an unrelated incident in which a hacker disrupted a state website that tracks legislative activity. State IT workers have taken down the bill status tool on the Legislature's website, following the hacker's attempt to manipulate its coding, according to the Kennebec Journal.
Go to the article from the Bangor Daily News >>
Go to the article from the Kennebec Journal >>
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments