Almost 100,000 student details compromised in University of Florida data breach

Officials at the University of Florida have reported a breach with the details of almost 100,000 people compromised.

It claimed that an intruder has gained access to a computer system that contained personal information for more than 97,000 people. Files included the names and Social Security numbers of students, faculty and staff who used the ‘Grove' computer system between 1996 and 2009.

The breach was discovered in January during a systems review, which was immediately shut down. An investigation confirmed that unauthorised access was made to the system, but it could not determine if files containing private information were accessed.

School spokeswoman Janine Sikes told the South Florida Sun Sentinel: “We know he went down a hallway, we don't know if he opened any doors. We have no evidence to believe that any information was taken for fraudulent purposes.”

However Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego, claimed that it could have been done by a student. She said: “They teach computer science and they teach the forensic side of information technology. You're teaching the very skills they need for hacking.”
 
See original article on scmagazineus.com