Framingham State College
Framingham State E-mail System Compromised, Used To Send Threats
Quick Facts
- Date: 3/17/2008
- Institution: Framingham State College
- Type of Incident: Unauthorized Disclosure
- Number Affected: N/A
- Source: ESI
- Abstract Source: The Wired Campus (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
Abstract
Framingham State College recently discovered that an unknown individual(s) were able to exploit a hole in the college's e-mail server and gain control over e-mail accounts. These accounts were then used to send threatening e-mail message all over the country threatening to harm the recipient unless money was paid to the sender. According to Framingham's CIO, Patrick Laughran, the college became aware of the breach on March 8 and the college took prompt action. The college has implemented additional layers of security and is asking students to strengthen their passwords. While Laughran did not know how many messages were sent, the college received at least 50 complaints from people who did receive these messages. The FBI is now involved in the case and the IP address of the attackers have been traced back to China, Russia and Sudan.
