Bad for Business

Add 197,000 names to the laundry list of people hurt by data and identity theft, as the University of Texas announced yesterday that the computer system for the McCombs School of Business was hacked by an "unknown person or persons" from April 11th to April 21st, when the breach was discovered due to unusual activity within the system.

In a press conference Sunday evening, President William Powers assured that no financial or academic information was stolen, but that social security numbers and biographical information of people with any ties (past, present or future) to the Business School were obtained during the almost-two weeks of infiltration. The University has contacted the Texas Attorney General, as well as set up a website and a toll-free information call center in order to attend to the surge of questions and concerns for all those affected.

The University of Texas is certainly no stranger to leaving the backdoor unlocked as student Christopher Phillips proved three years ago by illegally obtaining almost 40,000 Social Security numbers from the university's databases. Although none of the stolen information was used, Phillips was ordered to pay $170,000 in restitution and is currently serving five years probation.

Story on McCombs Site
Call Center: 512.475.9020 & 866.657.9400

*Image (c) Matt Wright.*