Noelle Phillips reports:
USC has experienced computer security breach that has exposed 31,000 people’s private information, including social security numbers, on the internet.
The security breach was discovered in January on a computer server at USC Sumter, but it potentially affected faculty, staff, retirees and students throughout the university system’s eight campuses.
“Letters went out as soon as individuals were identified,” said Margaret Lamb, a USC spokeswoman. “There is no evidence that anyone’s personal information was compromised or used improperly.”
Read more in The State.
There does not seem to be any statement on the university’s web site at this time and it’s not clear for how long the data were exposed on the web and how the university first became aware of the breach. I’ve sent an inquiry to the university and will update this entry as more information becomes available.