Laptop Stolen From Former TA Contained Student Grade Information
Quick Facts
- Date: 10/8/2007
- Institution: University of Iowa
- Type of Incident: Theft
- Number Affected: 184
- Source: ESI
- Abstract Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
Abstract
The University of Iowa is contacting 184 former and current students after a laptop belonging to a former UI Teaching Assistant was stolen. The computer, stolen from Tuomas Manninen's home, contained student names and grade information as well as about 100 student Social Security Numbers of students taking philosophy classes between 2002 and 2004. According to UI Information Technology Security Officer Jane Dews, the threat of identity theft is minimal since Manninen "buried the files in his directory structure and obfuscated the social security numbers." UI Philosophy department chairman David Stern is working to contact all of the affected students and is willing to talk with these students about the incident. According to the university, Manninen reported the September 15 theft to the University after filing a local police report in the Arizona city where Manninen now resides. UI has setup two web pages with more information, the first is for students who's SSNs were not in the files and the second is for those students who's SSNs were exposed.
