Berkeley Grads' Identity Data Stolen

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."

Comments

It's easy to encrypt in Windows

[caluml]

Windows, love it or hate it, makes it very easy to secure your data on a laptop. Just right click, and buried somewhere in there (Advanced options or something) tick the Encrypted option.
Better still, just create a directory (C:\Encrypted), and encrypt the folder, and all subdirectories.
Of course, there are issues with losing the encryption key, but as it's a laptop, and probably only has the one harddrive, I would expect the person to be keeping a backup somewhere else.

Re:It's easy to encrypt in Windows

[Wingsy]

Just as easy if not easier in OSX. Created an encrypted disk image (AES 128 bit) where the files are to be kept and do not put the pw in the Keychain. I'd trust encryption on a Mac a zillion times more than on Windows.

Re:Identity data stolen from a private university

[Muttley]

umm, sir, Berkeley is a State University... University of California. It in fact might be one of the best public universities in the country, alongside UT Austin, UW Seattle, Georgia Tech, and that probably wraps up my knowledge of US Public Universities.

Trivia - who is the highest paid state official in California...?
The coach of the UCLA Football team.

Re:Why do they need the SSNs?

[forand]

Berkeley does NOT use your SSN for your student number. It does, however need your SSN to provide you with federal financial aid and work. Since virtually EVERY grad student falls into one of these catagories they need the SSN.

Re:Why do they need the SSNs?

[defy god]

http://www.ssa.gov/history/hfaq.html

Q20: Are Social Security numbers reused after a person dies?

A: No. We do not reassign a Social Security number (SSN) after the number holder's death. Even though we have issued over 415 million SSNs so far, and we assign about 5 and one-half million new numbers a year, the current numbering system will provide us with enough new numbers for several generations into the future with no changes in the numbering system.

Re:Why do they need the SSNs?

[antifoidulus]

AFAIK, foriegn students do receive SSN #s, but an SSN # doesn't entitle you to social security benefits. Everyone who is not on a short term visa is required to get one. I hosted a student intern from Argentina here at my school and had to help her get all this stuff.