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Social Security number breach angers alumni

December 1, 2009
A Penn State professor's online grade book containing 303 Social Security numbers may have been compromised by a computer virus, and some of those affected say they've discussed taking legal action.

Penn State Security Operations and Services told university officials Aug. 3 about the incident. Three months later, the Dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences sent a letter to those affected.

"We've entertained the possibility of legal action," said Ryan Davidson, Class of 2006. "It's unnerving that information is hanging around there -- the school should've kept our information pretty confidential."

But Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz said the university's response was "in line with the Pennsylvania Breach of Personal Information Notification Act." The law requires that "notice shall be made without unreasonable delay" when a security breach occurs but does not specify a time period.

Davidson would not discuss further details regarding a possible lawsuit. He said he hasn't heard of anyone's Social Security number being used illegally.

"We have no reason to believe your information was accessed by unauthorized individuals," Dean William E. Easterling wrote in the letter. "However, you should remain vigilant."

Mike McEvoy, Class of 2006, said he was in shock when he opened the letter, which he received Nov. 23.

"I got two words into the letter and I started calling everybody -- I don't understand why our personal information is still on the computer," he said. "I don't understand why it took the college three months to tell us. A lot could have happened in three months. It seems like there was a lack of communication."

Mountz said the information was taken offline immediately and has no reason to believe anyone accessed the information. The letter also included information with how to lessen the risk of identity theft, "even if that risk is only a remote possibility," Mountz said.

McEvoy said he was thankful university officials took the information offline but wishes they had notified him sooner.

By Kevin Cirilli
Collegian Staff Writer

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2009/11/30/social_security_number_breach.aspx


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