Educational Security Incidents (ESI)

Quick Facts

• Date: 5/30/2008
• Institution: New Hampshire Technical Institute
• Type of Incident: Loss
• Number Affected: 128
• Source: Pogo Was Right
• Abstract Source: New Hampshire Attorney General Office [pdf]

Abstract
The New Hampshire Technical Institute is working to alert former nursing program students after a USB flash drive was discovered missing. NHTI launched an investigation into the missing flash drive and was unable to determine whether or not the drive contained student information. According to the letter to the New Hampshire Attorney General, the missing drive may contain the names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and Social Security numbers of 128 nursing program graduates from the classes of 2006 and 2007. NHTI is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring to the affected students.

Quick Facts

• Date: 1/31/2008
• Institution: University of Minnesota
• Type of Incident: Loss
• Number Affected: 3,100
• Source: ESI
• Abstract Source: WCCO

Abstract
University of Minnesota's Reproductive Medicine Center is alerting patients after it became aware of the loss of a USB drive containing patient information. The drive belonged to Dr. Theodore Nagel which he used to store unencrypted and unprotected backups of his computer, which is against U of M regulations. The drive contained the names and infertility treatments of 3,1000 of Nagel's patients dating back to 1999. Nagel reported the loss to the center and has personally written letters of apology to the affected patients.

Quick Facts

• Date: 1/26/2008
• Institution: Aberdeen College, Adam Smith College, Anniesland College, Barony College, Dundee College, North Highland College, Telford College
• Type of Incident: Loss
• Number Affected: 1,400
• Source: ESI
• Abstract Source: Scotsman.com

Abstract
The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC) announced that several boxes of student data have been lost after being shipped to a research firm by a courier. The boxes contained the names, birth dates, address, telephone numbers, and demographic information on 1,400 students from a number of SFC colleges that had taken part in a voluntary survey. The students came from Aberdeen, Adam Smith, Anniesland, Barony, Dundee, North Highland and Telford colleges. While the survey forms did not include any bank or national insurance information, Dr. David Everett of data-security firm Microexpert, said "It is significant. If you have people's names, addresses and dates of birth it is a start, and the more information you have the more you can do with it." Students concerned about this incident can call the SFC at 0131-270-6056.

Quick Facts

• Date: 1/15/2008
• Institution: Tennessee Tech University
• Type of Incident: Loss
• Number Affected: 990
• Source: ESI
• Abstract Source: Tennessean

Abstract
Tennessee Tech University is notifying students after a USB drive containing student information went missing. The drive contained the names and Social Security numbers of 990 students living in the university's Capital Quad and Crawford residence halls during the Fall 2007 semester. According to a university spokesperson, the information was transferred to the drive for transfer after an employee was unable to print the information. More information about this incident is available at www.tntech.edu/publicaffairs/securityID.

Quick Facts

• Date: 1/11/2008
• Institution: University of Akron
• Type of Incident: Loss
• Number Affected: 800
• Source: ESI
• Abstract Source: WKYC

Abstract

The University of Akron is alerting students and graduates of the university's College of Education after a hard drive containing personal information was found to be missing. The drive contained the names, Social Security numbers and addresses of more then 800 individuals. According to Dr. Cynthia Capers, interim dean of the College of Education, the university will offer free credit monitoring services to any affected individual even though Dr. Capers believes the risk of identity theft is low.