Theif Makes Off With EIU Student Information
Quick Facts
- Date: 1/26/2007
- Institution: Eastern Illinois University
- Type of Incident: Theft
- Number Affected: 1,400
- Source: Attrition.org
- Abstract Source: Journal-Gazzette - Times Courier
Abstract
Eastern Illinois University has begun to notify 1,400 fraternity and sorority members that they are now at risk for identity theft. A theft recently made off with one desktop computer as well as the hard drives and memory from two other computers within EIU's Student Life office. This equipment contained a listing of all EIU fraternity and sorority members and included names, Social Security numbers, addresses and dates of birth for each member. These files were protected only by a sign-on password to the computer. EIU stressed the fact that only current current information was contained on this equipment and the Student Life office routinely purges old student records from its computer systems each semester. EIU officials also mentioned that the university is in the middle of phasing out most of the SSN usage on campus, a project scheduled to be completed by 2008.
