Whopping-Big Data Theft At U.C. Berkeley

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Whopping-Big Data Theft At U.C. Berkeley

Posted by timothy on Wednesday October 20, 2004 @01:37AM 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."

13 of 380 comments (clear)

It's not theft by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-20 01:40 · Score: 5, Funny

It's "copyright infringement".
Fix by rguiu · 2004-10-20 01:41 · Score: 5, Funny

Should be quite easy to fix, now give new name and social security name to everyone involved.
At Berkeley? by buckeyeguy · 2004-10-20 01:42 · Score: 2, Funny

Was the system in question still running BSD? ;)

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I'd have a personalized plate on my car, but "toxic bachelor" won't fit into 7 letters.
1. Re:At Berkeley? by Indy+Media+Watch · 2004-10-20 01:47 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Two things have come out of Berkeley, Unix and LSD. It is uncertain which caused the other.
  
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  Indy Media Watch-Proctologist of the Internet
WHAT!?! by Creepy+Crawler · 2004-10-20 01:44 · Score: 3, Funny

I didnt know the "SSN database.mdb" in /tmp was 'secret'!

Oh-nos!
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- Mod parent up! by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Thurs, Nov 31, @13:37
Want to sell by ValuJet · 2004-10-20 01:45 · Score: 4, Funny

1.4 million Social Security numbers.
Re:Traffic Safety Center by Sc00ter · 2004-10-20 01:48 · Score: 5, Funny

So you drive around with your car under a big blanket or something?

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Re:Traffic Safety Center by Brummund · 2004-10-20 02:10 · Score: 4, Funny

Tinfoil, my son, tinfoil. :-)
Why bother stealing this data? by commodoresloat · 2004-10-20 02:38 · Score: 2, Funny

The victims were all receiving or providing at-home care under a state program to help the elderly and disabled.
So why bother stealing the SSNs of victims who are old and broke? You can't steal their money - they don't have any! If you steal their identity you'll wind up laying in a hospital with a tube in your nose being pumped full of Demerol....
Oh, ok, now I understand.
Re:Anyone know what OS this was that got hacked? by devphil · 2004-10-20 02:41 · Score: 1, Funny

Dunno about the OS, but it occured at UC Berkeley, so it was almost certainly a sendmail exploit. :-)

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You cannot apply a technological solution to a sociological problem. (Edwards' Law)
My choice by Hoi+Polloi · 2004-10-20 03:00 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm picking "Yusuf Islam", then I'm catching a flight.

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It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
Sharing Info by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-20 03:05 · Score: 1, Funny

"The govt should have in place an opt in (note I said opt IN, not opt OUT) option for citizens who dont mind their info being shared, and also the option to choose HOW MUCH info is being shared."

I'm going to request that they not share my info with interpol, the FBI, and the local police. For, umm, various reasons.
Re:How many intrusions went undetected? by tgrigsby · 2004-10-21 04:42 · Score: 2, Funny

Online bill pay service options:

"Would you like us to remember your credit card number for future transactions?

a. Why yes, please.
b. Remember all but the last 5 digits.
c. I'm not sure.
d. No thank you.
e. What do I look like, some kind of MORON?!
f. ^&%$* YOU!
g. No, and please list all the credit card numbers you already have, thereby saving me the trouble of hacking your system."

Cracker: g

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*** *** You're just jealous 'cause the voices talk to me... ***