Educational Security Incidents (ESI)

Quick Facts

• Date: 6/25/2008
• Institution: Cornell University
• Type of Incident: Theft
• Number Affected: 2,500
• Source: ESI
• Abstract Source: The Ithaca Journal

Abstract
Cornell University recently announced that it will begin offering one year of free credit protection to 2,500 students whose personal information may have been copied from a desktop computer. The possible breach was discovered in March, when Cornell staff found a computer in the Office of Minority Educational Affairs was infected with several viruses and malware that could have been used to record and steal information on the computer. One of the files on this affected computer contained a spreadsheet with names and Social Security numbers of a large number students and alumni that had participated in the University's Pre-Freshman Summer Program.