Please be advised that anyone potentially affected by this computer security breach has been notified by letter.On May 8, Sacred Heart University discovered that the security system on one of our computers containing personal information was breached. We immediately took the computer offline and began an aggressive investigation using university resources and an independent Internet security firm to determine if data was accessed. We cannot confirm that any of the sensitive files on this computer were actually accessed but we believe that the intruder had the expertise to do so.
We have notified by letter anyone potentially affected by this computer security breach. In the event there are notices of incidents of identity fraud related to this situation from those who we have notified, we have offered them precautionary measures they could take to safeguard their privacy.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse** indicates that since February 2005 over 50 million people have had their personal information potentially exposed by unauthorized access to the computer systems of companies and institutions; and that 50% of all reported security breaches since February 2005 have occurred at colleges and universities.
While the University maintains a state-of-the-art computer security system and employs a highly qualified outside computer security firm, it is impossible to be 100% secure from illicit intrusion into confidential, personal and financial information. We continually monitor, with the help of outside agencies, our computer security policies and procedures, and in the face of this incident, we are conducting a full review.
Sacred Heart University is acting to obtain all information attainable regarding this incident, and has established a website (http://it.sacredheart.edu/security/creditawareness/) and telephone hotline (1-866-505-7979, 9 a.m – 5 p.m. M-F) for inquiries. The University has notified the police and FBI, and the matter is under investigation.
More news about security breaches in higher education
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, please call: 203-396-8241
**See Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, A Chronology of Data Breaches Reported Since the ChoicePoint Incident.
Back to May 2006 Next Page