DataBreaches.Net

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

Virginia Commonwealth University Breach results in data of 170k people leaked

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Lee J

Virginia Commonwealth University will hire an outside cybersecurity consultant to examine its information technology system after a computer server containing personal data on 176,567 people was hacked last month. The university has "very good forensic evidence" that the information was not accessed or targeted for identity theft, said Mark D. Willis, VCU’s chief information officer. "But you can never be 100 percent certain." VCU is notifying people whose information was on the server. They include current and former VCU and VCU Health System faculty, staff, students and affiliates, such as contractors and visiting professors. The data included names or electronic identification, Social Security numbers and, in some cases, dates of birth and home addresses. Willis said the server did not include information on Health System patients. The FBI and VCU police are investigating the incident. VCU is advising those affected by its breach how to obtain free credit reports and put alerts on their accounts, but it is not offering to provide protection services because it deems the risk low. "We’re pretty certain that theft of data was not the purpose for this," Willis said of the intrusion, which occurred in two stages. The forensic examination showed the intruder was on the server containing personal data for 16 minutes on one day, he said. The hacking originated outside the university but from an IP address within the United States, he said. The first breach was discovered Oct. 24 when routine monitoring found suspicious files on one server, which contained no personal data and was taken offline. Five days later, VCU found two unauthorized programs on the second server. An analysis showed the intruder had compromised the second server through the first, on which programs were placed to establish a platform for other attacks, Willis said. The outside review will be the first complete "holistic look" at VCU’s system, he said. Cost and time estimates were not available, but he said the scrutiny could slow access to university websites at times. VCU’s last breach was in 2009 when a computer containing 17,214 Social Security numbers was stolen. Identity protection services were offered in that case because although an arrest was made, the computer was not recovered, Willis said.

No related posts.

Category: Breach Incidents

Post navigation

← Census Bureau Opens Research Laboratory in Atlanta
Update to UCLA Dept. of Psychology breach →

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

  • Integrated Oncology Network victim of phishing attack; multiple locations affected (2)
  • HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule Investigation with Deer Oaks Behavioral Health for $225k and a Corrective Action Plan
  • HB1127 Explained: North Dakota’s New InfoSec Requirements for Financial Corporations
  • Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined
  • Five youths arrested on suspicion of phishing
  • Russia Jailed Hacker Who Worked for Ukrainian Intelligence to Launch Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure
  • Kentfield Hospital victim of cyberattack by World Leaks, patient data involved
  • India’s Max Financial says hacker accessed customer data from its insurance unit
  • Brazil’s central bank service provider hacked, $140M stolen
  • Iranian and Pro-Regime Cyberattacks Against Americans (2011-Present)

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

  • On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
  • German court awards Facebook user €5,000 for data protection violations
  • Record-Breaking $1.55M CCPA Settlement Against Health Information Website Publisher
  • Ninth Circuit Reviews Website Tracking Class Actions and the Reach of California’s Privacy Law
  • US healthcare offshoring: Navigating patient data privacy laws and regulations
  • Data breach reveals Catwatchful ‘stalkerware’ is spying on thousands of phones
  • Google Trackers: What You Can Actually Escape And What You Can’t

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.