On April 27, the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, South Carolina, disclosed a breach involving high school students who had enrolled in a program they offered. Here is their first statement:
On Thursday, April 23, 2015, the Technical College of the Lowcountry was notified of a possible data security incident involving the online publication of the names and Social Security numbers of 91 Beaufort County School District students who were enrolled in TCL’s Early College Credit Opportunities/Dual Enrollment program in 2009-2010.
Upon preliminary investigation, it appears to be an isolated event that did not originate with the College. However, since former TCL students are affected, the College is making every effort to help resolve the situation and ensure it does not happen again. Per the College’s request, the personal information has been removed from the publisher’s web site. TCL will be mailing letters to those affected and providing options for identity and credit monitoring services.
If you feel that you may have been affected, please contact TCL at 843.525.8249 to ensure the College has your correct contact information.
TCL values the privacy and security of our former and current students and is deeply sorry to learn of this incident.
Questions? Please call 843.525.8249.
On April 29, they updated their disclosure to identify the federal, state, and internal guidelines for protecting student data. Their update did not add new details to the disclosure, however, such as how this breach occurred, when the data were first exposed, how they learned about it, and who the third-party or publisher was. Nor do they report whether there was any evidence that the students’ data had been accessed, and if so, how many times.
Of course, if this breach didn’t originate with them, as they claim, some might argue that it really isn’t on them to provide all that information, and it’s commendable that they are stepping up to assist those affected. But who hired the third party that exposed the information? If it was the college, then it is their responsibility on some level. If it was Beauford County School District who hired the third party, then it was theirs. Or did no one hire/contract with that third party? How/why did the third party have the information and why did they need students’ Social Security numbers?
The story was first reported by Island Packet.