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Berkeley Grads' Identity Data Stolen

Posted by timothy on from the practice-safe-applicating dept.

yali writes "Did you get a graduate degree from Berkeley? Or maybe you just applied but didn't go there? If so, your identity may have been stolen. A laptop was stolen containing names, social security numbers, birthdates, and addresses of grad students, alumni, and applicants. University police suspect that the thief just wanted the laptop, but the irony of California's mandatory notification law is that the thief may now know they have something even more valuable. Berkeley has set up a website with information on the breach."

13 of 289 comments (clear)

  1. No! by TheSpeedoBeast · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh, HELL no, I just applied there!

  2. Wow... by InterruptDescriptorT · · Score: 4, Funny

    Talk about your OpenBSD (Berkeley Social Data)...

    --
    Karma: Excellent Birds (mostly as a result of listening to Laurie Anderson)
  3. Wow... by jpiggot · · Score: 2, Funny
    ..and the irony of the theft...is that pot dealers are anixously bidding for the laptop on Ebay, for a chance to sell weed to more than enough smokers needed to put that down payment on that cool 50ft motoryacht they've been wanting.

    I kid because I love. What other university lets you major in "crispy" ?

    --
    StupidChildren...the reason jesus is crying
  4. Re:Why do they need the SSNs? by flyingsquid · · Score: 5, Funny
    Why does a school need our SSNs? Why does anybody outside the government? Here in Minnesota, I need to provide my SSN now just for fishing and hunting licenses. WTF?

    Next time you apply for a license, just tell them you are John Kruptowski, 537 Cherrywood Circle, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 575-63-6216, currently applying to UC Berkeley's astrophysics program.

    If you don't like that name, I got a zillion more.

  5. Re:Why do they need the SSNs? by ikkonoishi · · Score: 4, Funny

    #12074974, I am shocked by your assertation that my actions are being tracked by an ID number of some kind. All places should put the effort to protect our identities that Slashdot does.

    Sincerly
    #12072440

  6. Re:My college, too. by OneSmartFellow · · Score: 1, Funny

    Surely to get into any room in any large building one must go to a specific hallway, on a specific floor.

    Does this mean all theft from all large buildings is targetted ?

  7. Re:Why do they need the SSNs? by matth · · Score: 2, Funny

    Exactly why my kids will not be getting SSNs!

  8. That's ok. by RandoX · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't use my own identity anymore anyway.

  9. Poor devils. by bobbuck · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow. These poor guys will be branded as Berkeley alumni for life.

    1. Re:Poor devils. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      That's ok, Berkeley Alumni never leave the area anyway.

  10. Torrent? by Cyn · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can't seem to find it yet, anyone have it?

    --
    cyn, free software and *nix operating systems enthusiast.
  11. Re:My college, too. by deadweight · · Score: 2, Funny

    "To get there, you have to go to a specific hallway, on a specific floor, in a specific building" Doesn't that describe ANY physical location inside ANY multistory building?

  12. Re:And the funny thing is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Good thing you didn't send it to Berkeley.