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Break-In Compromises 160k Medical Records At UC Berkeley
nandemoari writes "Hackers have reportedly infiltrated restricted computer databases at the University of California Berkeley, putting the private data of 160,000 students, alumni, and others at risk. According to UC Berkeley, computer administrators determined on April 9, 2009 that electronic databases in University Health Services had been breached by overseas criminals. The breakins began in October 2008. Information contained on the breached databases included Social Security numbers, health insurance information, and non-treatment medical information such as records of immunization and names of treating physicians."
Were the databases Microsoft-based?
"To err is human, to mod Funny divine."
The University of California at Berkeley is also a heavy user of H-1b visas. The last 8 year, UC Berkeley has applied for 977 H-1b Visas. It isn't clear how many of these related to their computer staff-but traditionally about half of all H-1b visas are used for that purpose. It is simply not credible to bring numerous foreign workers from places where you can't even reliably do a background check(people are regularly declared dead in India and simply can't sort it out) and expect to maintain any semblance of security.
The management of UC Berkeley should be investigated for criminal negligence.