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Another School Exposes Private Information
DutchSter writes "In the wake of other schools announcing the theft of hardware containing sensitive student information, Miami University, of Oxford, Ohio, has announced that a file containing the name, Social Security number, the grade point average for the Fall 2002 semester, cumulative grade point average, and other related academic information, such as credit hours attempted that semester, for all 21,000 students who attended the Fall 2002 term has been available on a web server for the last three years. The discovery was made this week and the university is taking steps to deal with the fall-out sure to come."
I'm a grad from MU's CSA program, and I'm not very happy right now.
I blame the MIS students!!! Biz-kids think they can run a computer...
And yeah, the docs included my ssn...
I'm glad Bush passed that Bankruptcy reform
What happens when everyones id is stolen. Really fuck the econ, aye, you know, if you can't trust anyone id...
TFA
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Dear Miami graduate student,
Miami University notified all members of the University community today that a report containing the names, grades, and social security numbers of all students who were enrolled at Miami in Fall 2002 was inadvertently placed in a file accessible through the Internet. At this point we have no evidence of illegal use of this information, but we are concerned and deeply regret that because of this action private and confidential student information was exposed.
You will find below the press release we have sent out that will give you more information about this incident.
I want to repeat that this affects only students attending Miami in Fall 2002. There is no threat to current students who were not on campus in Fall 2002. If you were on campus in Fall 2002, you will receive by early next week from Reid Christenberry, vice president for information technology, an email message providing you with a toll-free phone number, which will be staffed by trained investigators who are experienced in dealing with privacy issues. Later you will receive similar, written notification from Miami with the toll-free phone number and additional information about actions you can take if you are concerned about possible identity theft.
If you were on campus in Fall 2002 and do not receive an email early next week, please let us know by emailing us at mailto:privacyhelp@muohio.edu>privacyhelp@muohio.e du
Again, we deeply regret that this information was made accessible. We will keep you informed of the actions we are taking to protect current students and alumni.
Richard Nault
Vice President for Student Affairs
14 September 2005
MIAMI NOTIFYING STUDENTS, ALUMNI OF PRIVACY BREACH
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University is notifying all students who attended Miami during the fall 2002 semester that a report containing their names, Social Security numbers and grades had been inadvertently placed in a file accessible through the Internet. University officials said that at this point they have no evidence of illegal use of the information, which included data on the 21,762 students enrolled on all Miami campuses in fall 2002. No other students were affected. Officials say the information was in an isolated area of the university's network, in a file assigned to a now-retired faculty member, and thus avoided detection until this week when an alumna told Miami she had discovered the file after entering her name in a search engine.
"Nevertheless, private and confidential information was exposed, and we deeply regret the incident. We have removed the file and are writing the students and alumni to apologize. We also are taking steps to rectify the problem and to avoid a similar instance in the future," said J. Reid Christenberry, Miami's vice president for information technology.
The university is writing a letter to all those affected, many of whom have now graduated, directing them to a toll-free number that will be staffed by trained investigators who are experienced in dealing with privacy issues. Miami has established a web page, www.muohio.edu/privacyhelp, with additional information. Individuals who want to contact the university about the situation can use a special email address, privacyhelp@muohio.edu, or call Miami at (513) 529-0438.
"We are doing all we can to reach those whose information was included and to guide them through actions to reduce risk," said Christenberry. The report was a standard grade
It is basically one of those colleges that wants to look like an Ivy League school but it is just a one big glorified party, where rich parents can send their spoiled kids to study business and literature.
By the way, I still don't get their name. It is not in the freakin' Miami and certainly not anywhere near (geographically and academically) U of Oxford, England.
For being French, you speak wonderful English.