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Whopping-Big Data Theft At U.C. Berkeley

Posted by timothy on from the what-pleasant-fellows dept.

aceta writes "An intruder penetrated a research computer at U.C. Berkeley in August and had access to names, social security numbers and other data for 1.4 million Californians participating in a state social program. CNET calls it the worst intrusion U.C. Berkeley has experienced. SecurityFocus additional details: the hacker used a known vulnerability, and state officials have yanked the university's research access to the data because of the breach. The victims were all receiving or providing at-home care under a state program to help the elderly and disabled. The FBI is investigating."

5 of 380 comments (clear)

  1. Another blow to Reichsmarshall Ashcroft's regime by samberdoo · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So we are all MUCH safe now than we used to be. I don't think so. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to data security in this country. There are many databases out there that are just as vulnerable. Not much is being done to identify these risks. Cyber terrorist don't have to be rocket scientists, but they could be.

  2. Berkeley, khmm... by mi · · Score: 1, Flamebait
    Had it been the Bob Jones University or some other ubber-conservative school, we'd never hear the end of conspiracy theories viz. rights-trampling and spying on fellow citizens (not that there was anything in there unknown to the government yet).

    Let's see, how it plays out for this ubber-liberal establishment.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  3. As a Stanford Student by Omkar · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I'd have to say that Cal suck.

  4. Re:Another blow to Reichsmarshall Ashcroft's regim by CXI · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Just remember that it was a liberal social program that gathered all that data together in the first place and gave it to the university.

  5. SSN should be public by thisissilly · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I'm tired of SSN being considered "sensitive" data, given how easy it is to find someone's, and the number of places that ask for yours.

    So what we should do is have the Government announce: "Stop considering SSN private information. As of Jan 1, 2010, we will be publishing the complete list of names/SSNs."

    This would force places that misuse SSNs because they think it is "confidential" to stop using it in that manner.