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: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.