UKentucky *accidentally publishes* faculty SS#'s

  • Thread starter Rach3
  • Start date
In summary, the University of Kentucky accidentally posted 1,300 employee Social Security numbers on a public website for several weeks. The school has since removed the spreadsheet containing the personal data and considers any breach of privacy and confidentiality a serious matter. Some argue that mistakes like this are too easy to do nowadays, while others question the competency of the university's bureaucrats. However, it is important to note that even highly secure organizations like Los Alamos have not been immune to similar errors.
  • #1
Rach3
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Kentucky inadvertently posted about 1,300 employee Social Security numbers on a Web site that was accessible to the public for several weeks last month.

"This is a regrettable incident, and the University considers any breach of privacy and confidentiality a serious matter"...

The school learned late last week that a spreadsheet containing the personal data was available online. It immediately was removed from the school's server, the memo said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_on_re_us/brf_university_identity_theft

If anyone wants to know my opinion, I think bureaucrats this stupid shouldn't be allowed to operate spreadsheets. Not even with adult supervision.
 
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  • #2
Everyone makes mistakes...
 
  • #3
Pengwuino said:
Everyone makes mistakes...
I've yet to see the secrets of the H-bomb mistakenly put up on the home page of Los Alamos:

http://www.lanl.gov/
 
  • #4
I am sure some bureaucrats could be replaced with a single transistor, a
low gain one would do.
 
  • #5
What makes you think this had anything to do with a bureaucrat? It was probably just a secretary slipping with the mouse and moving the file onto a public folder of the server rather than the secure one. Frustrating for everyone affected, but these types of mistakes are just far too easy to do anymore.
 
  • #6
Rach3 said:
I've yet to see the secrets of the H-bomb mistakenly put up on the home page of Los Alamos:

http://www.lanl.gov/

Good argument :rolleyes:
 
  • #7
Rach3 said:
I've yet to see the secrets of the H-bomb mistakenly put up on the home page of Los Alamos:

http://www.lanl.gov/
You can find those on wikipedia.
 

1. What is the reason for UKentucky accidentally publishing faculty SS#'s?

The reason for UKentucky accidentally publishing faculty SS#'s could be due to a technical error or a data breach.

2. How many faculty SS#'s were exposed in the accidental publication?

The number of faculty SS#'s exposed in the accidental publication would depend on the size of the faculty at UKentucky. It is important to note that even one exposed SS# is a cause for concern.

3. What impact does this accidental publication have on the affected faculty members?

The accidental publication of faculty SS#'s can have serious consequences for the affected individuals. It puts them at risk for identity theft and fraud, which can have long-lasting effects on their personal and financial well-being.

4. What steps is UKentucky taking to address this issue and protect faculty SS#'s in the future?

UKentucky is likely taking immediate action to remove the published SS#'s and notify the affected faculty members. They may also be conducting an investigation into how the incident occurred and implementing stricter security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

5. What should affected faculty members do if their SS# was accidentally published?

If a faculty member's SS# was accidentally published, they should take immediate action to protect their identity and credit. This may include monitoring their credit reports, placing a fraud alert on their credit file, and notifying their financial institutions and credit card companies.

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