DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

A costly reminder that encrypting a laptop doesn’t help if you don’t shut down the laptop

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Dissent

Add Tufts University to the list of educational institutions reporting a breach this year.

On July 7, the university notified the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office that a laptop used by a professor conducting research at Massachusetts General Hospital also contained a file with information on applicants to Tufts’ Graduate School of Arts and Science for the Department of Psychology. The spreadsheet had been downloaded to the laptop in early 2010 and should have been removed, but never was.

When the laptop was stolen in late April 2011, the professor reported the theft to MGH and the police, but it wasn’t until June 16, 2011 that Tufts learned that the spreadsheet containing 73 applicants’ names, contact information,  Social Security Numbers, and some educational/academic information were  was also on the laptop.  The details of how/where the laptop was stolen was not indicated in the notification to the state or affected individuals.

Although the laptop was reportedly encrypted, the professor had some doubt as to whether it had been properly shut down after its last use, allowing the possibility that someone might be able to access the data.  As a result, Tufts offered those affected one year of free credit monitoring services.

Category: Breach IncidentsEducation SectorTheftU.S.

Post navigation

← Widespread malware attack affects some Ascensus clients
#AntiSec/Anonymous claims to have compromised 77 law enforcement-related web sites and acquired personal information of 7,000 officers →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Hearing on the Federal Government and AI
  • Nigerian National Sentenced To More Than Five Years For Hacking, Fraud, And Identity Theft Scheme
  • Data breach of patient info ends in firing of Miami hospital employee
  • Texas DOT investigates breach of crash report records, sends notification letters
  • PowerSchool hacker pleads guilty, released on personal recognizance bond
  • Rewards for Justice offers $10M reward for info on RedLine developer or RedLine’s use by foreign governments
  • New evidence links long-running hacking group to Indian government
  • Zaporizhzhia Cyber ​​Police Exposes Hacker Who Caused Millions in Losses to Victims by Mining Cryptocurrency
  • Germany fines Vodafone $51 million for privacy, security breaches
  • Google: Hackers target Salesforce accounts in data extortion attacks

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • The Decision That Murdered Privacy
  • Hearing on the Federal Government and AI
  • California county accused of using drones to spy on residents
  • How the FBI Sought a Warrant to Search Instagram of Columbia Student Protesters
  • Germany fines Vodafone $51 million for privacy, security breaches
  • Malaysia enacts data sharing rules for public sector
  • U.S. Enacts Take It Down Act

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.