cyber security: [april 2008]
Published: 03/14/08
- Hacker Accesses Harvard Computer Server
From the article of the same title by: Philip Shishkin, Wall Street Journal - Upon closer inspection of a security breach that occurred on February 16, Harvard officials have discovered it was more extensive than it first appeared and jeopardized as many as 10,000 graduate-school applicants. When the hack was first uncovered, school officials believed only 19 housing applications were compromised and no Social Security numbers were lifted. They later realized the breach was more widespread, however, and on March 12 began contacting potential victims. The attacker posted the names and addresses of the students as a free download on a Web site on March 13, though no Social Security numbers were listed. According to the Web site, the attack was intended to expose the weaknesses in Harvard's information systems security. Harvard CIO Dan Moriarty says the school is about halfway through a security project that will encrypt all of the school's servers and computers and says the hacked server was not encrypted. The school has put all potential victims in touch with a risk-consulting company, which will monitor and restore any damaged credit if this results from the crime.
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