Study: 600K campus records hacked this year

Report calls American universities 'a hacker's dream,' says overhaul of campus IT security is needed

By Dennis Carter, Assistant Editor
Read more by Denny Carter

Computer hackers reportedly have stolen identifying information and credit card numbers from more than half a million — some 600,000 — college students, faculty, and alumni this year. This is prompting some campus IT officials to call for a "total overhaul" of computer security protocol.

Identity Theft 911, an Arizona-based company founded by consumer advocates and experts from the financial industry and law enforcement, released a report this month, called "America’s Universities: A Hacker’s Dream," which documents some of the largest recent computer security breaches on college campuses and discusses solutions for IT decision makers and students.

Twenty-seven American colleges and universities saw personal records stolen in the first seven months of 2009, and the report concludes that a "sprawling profusion" of disparate computer networks and servers–each with a different security policy–makes IT departments "powerless to enforce any standards," meaning student grades, credit information, and Security Social numbers remain vulnerable.

Read the full story at eCampus News