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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."

5 of 289 comments (clear)

  1. 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)
  2. 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.

  3. 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

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

    I don't use my own identity anymore anyway.

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

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