UWM’s PC Infiltrated, Database for 75,000 Leaked

According to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, hackers broke into its computer system and installed malware on it, potentially leaking database consisting of names as well as Social Security Numbers (SSNs) belonging to approximately 75,000 students, staff and faculty. JSOnline reported this on August 10, 2011.

Also, while nothing was confirmed about the length of time the malicious software remained active on the system, the latter was closed immediately when the hack became evident. Authorities speculated that miscreants utilized the malware for detecting advanced research being conducted at the school; however, that still requires being validated.

As per the university, its security researchers have no idea as to where the hackers came from although their theory concludes that the intruders were not attempting at committing ID-theft.

Tom Luljak Vice-Chancellor of the university stated that discussion with the forensic specialists showed that there wasn't any motive for ID-theft. The institution mainly conducted research projects therefore the hackers probably tried to determine the tasks that were being performed, he continued. JSOnline published this.

Luljak added that owing to the malware's type, the university was worried that it'd enable the miscreants to acquire admission into other servers and probably carry out phishing activity more than anything else.

The school got in touch with federal as well as its area law enforcement officials and found that there'd been a leakage of a database. As per Luljak, while the database consisted of names and SSNs, there wasn't any academic info like grades of students, or financial data in it.

Even now the school cautions students for remaining watchful via reviewing their credit statement as well as asking for getting it frozen. Fortunately, while there may've been theft of students' identifiable details, there wasn't any academic information in the database; therefore, to say the minimum the attackers will not succeed in determining if pupils got through their 'criminology' syllabus.

Meanwhile, according to the security investigators, they spent approximately 6-weeks for figuring out the data hack's specifications. Eventually it's understood that when organizations go through a security hack, they usually provide a free credit reviewing for a 12-month period to those victimized.

Related article: UNH Launches Cyber Threat Calculator

» SPAMfighter News - 8/22/2011