Yahoo Search Returns Spreadsheet Containing USC Student Grades and SSNs

Submitted by Adam Dodge on Thu, 2007-09-06 08:59

Quick Facts

Abstract
Aaron Titus of SSNBreach.org made a startling discovery over the weekend when a Yahoo search returned a spreadsheet contain the names, Social Security numbers, assignment scores, test scores, course grades and indications of academic misconduct on 3,199 University of South Carolina students. The spreadsheet was found on USC's Biological Sciences Department web site. Titus notified the university and the FBI on the same day the file was discovered and USC immediately began removing the information. However, the information still remained in major search engine indexes according to Titus. In an odd turn, it seems that USC has yet to inform the students affected by this incident. According to second-year chemistry student, Elyse Coolidge, "I feel disappointed [over the lack of notification]. If the university knows they made a mistake, they should at least have the integrity to tell me."

Update1
According to USC spokesperson Russ McKinney the total number of USC students affect by the breach stands at 1,482. McKinney also stated that the university takes this matter very seriously and is investigating exactly what occurred. At this point, it appears that the individual responsible for placing the information on the web was not aware that the file would be accessible to individuals outside of the university.