Samara Kalk Derby reports about a newly revealed breach involving the University of Wisconsin – Madison:
Records with the names and identification card numbers of 60,000 people affiliated with UW-Madison were hacked into, compromising Social Security numbers.
UW-Madison became aware of the problem Oct. 26 and notified the mostly former students, faculty and staff members in a letter dated Nov. 30, said UW-Madison spokesman John Lucas.
One of the files in the Wiscard system, which is administered through the Wisconsin Union, contained old university photo IDs that had social security numbers embedded in the ID number along with corresponding cardholder names. No other personal identification information was contained in the files.
Read more on Madison.com. As of the time of this posting, I do not see any press release on the univeristy’s web site.
Jennifer Zettel of the Badger Herald reports:
… While not all students on campus prior to 2008 may be in the database, Lucas said anyone whose data was compromised will be notified via letter by UW.
Lucas emphasized the fact that students on campus since 2008 have nothing to worry about, and even students here before 2008 may not be at risk.
“It’s important for current students within the last two years (to know they) are not affected by this… the Wiscards with the social security numbers were deactivated in 2008,” Lucas said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean anyone with a Wiscard before 2008 [had their information exposed].”
Read more in the Badger Herald.