[Vision2020] FW: UI Identity Alert

Thu Jan 11 13:20:49 PST 2007

Ya know what is pissing me off is that in the latter part of 2005 an office 
I deal with regularly, then in June 2006 a state I used to live in and in 
September 2006 the VA all wrote me similar letters - that their "data-bases" 
have been stolen and MY information was among those taken.  NOW THIS!

It seems rather odd that at a time when security in this country is supposed 
to be at an all-time high, we have office after office getting personnel 
information stolen and all we are supposed to do is wait to see if its OUR 
information that gets used/misused.

What is the point of going through people's mail, computers, baggage, homes, 
etc. without warrants, if the very information-gathering sites where our 
really (secondarily) important stuff is kept, are what is being repeatedly 
broken into and things taken?  (The most important "stuff" is my family, of 
course.)

J  :]

>From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund at roadrunner.com>
>To: "'vision2020'" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: [Vision2020] FW: UI Identity Alert
>Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 12:40:18 -0800
>
>Visionaries:
>
>This is the second time in under seven months we've been notified that
>confidential information collected by the UI has been stolen, placing a
>whole slew of people at risk for identity theft.  IMHO, that's not a very
>good track record.  I see that they are just now taking some basic steps
>that should -- IMHO -- have been taken long ago.
>
>Very distressing  :-(
>
>
>Saundra Lund
>Moscow, ID
>
>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
>nothing.
>- Edmund Burke
>
>***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2006, Saundra Lund.
>Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce outside the Vision 2020 forum
>without the express written permission of the author.*****
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Identity Alert [mailto:identityalert at uidaho.edu]
>Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 12:00 PM
>Subject: UI Identity Alert
>
>January 11, 2007
>
>
>To Members of the University of Idaho Community,
>
>I write to inform you of the recent theft of three desktop computers from
>the University of Idaho Advancement Services office. The theft may have
>compromised personal data of university alumni, donors, students and
>employees. Please note, however, that at this time, we have no evidence 
>that
>your personal data has been misused because of the theft of these 
>computers.
>
>The theft occurred over the Thanksgiving holiday and the university
>immediately reported the incident to law enforcement. At their request, to
>help preserve the integrity of the investigation, the university has waited
>to release information until given word to do so. We continue to cooperate
>with the ongoing investigation by law enforcement authorities in an effort
>to recover the stolen computers.
>
>The university immediately launched an internal investigation to determine
>the nature of the information on the computers. The investigation revealed
>that six months prior to the theft the computer hard drives contained
>datasets with names, addresses and Social Security numbers for 
>approximately
>70,000 individuals; they did not contain credit card or other personal
>account information. As a precaution, the University of Idaho is making a
>broad public notification about the computer theft to approximately 331,800
>individuals. The larger number represents the total number of individuals
>whose information may have been accessed by Advancement Services as part of
>the office's work.
>
>We deeply regret this incident and any worry or inconvenience it may cause,
>but we want to assure you that the University of Idaho is strengthening its
>processes for securing and storing sensitive data. The university is
>following up its initial investigation with a complete review of its
>electronic and physical security measures for Advancement Services and 
>other
>offices.
>
>To assist you further, the University of Idaho has established a website
>with additional information, including this public notice, answers to
>frequently asked questions and links to other resources:
>www.identityalert.uidaho.edu. A companion telephone hotline is available at
>(866) 351-1860.
>
>We want to reassure you that we have no evidence that your personal
>information has been misused due to the theft. We take our obligation to
>safeguard personal information very seriously.
>
>Sincerely,
>Timothy P. White
>President, University of Idaho
>
>
>**** This is an automated email message. Please do not reply as this email
>address is not monitored ***
>
>
>PUBLIC NOTICE ENCLOSURE
>
>
>How can I tell if my personal information has been compromised?
>
>There is no evidence at this point to indicate that any information on
>the stolen computer hard drives has been accessed or used illegally.
>What the university's investigation has revealed is that-as of six
>months prior to the theft-the computer hard drives contained datasets
>with names, addresses and Social Security numbers for approximately
>70,000 individuals.
>
>Only if the computers are recovered could we confirm whether the
>information for those 70,000 individuals was still on the computers,
>whether the computer hard drives held personal information for
>additional persons or whether any information on the computers had been
>accessed. Law enforcement efforts remain underway to recover the computers.
>
>
>I haven't noticed any unusual activity on my accounts. What can I do to
>protect my personal information?
>
>1. You should consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file. A
>fraud alert lets creditors know to contact you before any new accounts
>are opened in your name. Simply call any one of three credit reporting
>agencies listed below. The one call will let you automatically place a
>free fraud alert with all three of the agencies. Those agencies will
>then send you a letter with instructions for how to receive a free copy
>of your credit report from each agency.
>
>Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com
>Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or www.experian.com
>TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com
>
>2. You should request a free credit report through one of the credit
>agencies or visit the Annual Credit Report Request Service on the Web at
>www.annualcreditreport.com.
>
>3. If you do find suspicious activity on your credit reports, call the
>Latah County Sheriff at (208) 882-2216 to file a report of identity
>theft and contact the credit companies listed above. Get a copy of the
>police report, since you may be asked to provide a copy, along with
>other documentation, to help explain any issue with your records. More
>information about identity theft is available through the Federal Trade
>Commission's website: www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
>
>4. Because Social Security numbers may be involved, we also recommend
>that you monitor your Social Security statement. The Social Security
>Administration website at www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html will explain how
>to address possible misuse of your social security number and how to
>review your statement.
>
>
>What is the University of Idaho doing in response to this incident?
>
>The university has taken immediate steps to investigate the nature of
>the data contained on the stolen computers, to notify individuals who
>may be affected, and to assess and improve upon its internal physical
>and electronic security.
>
>As a precaution, the University of Idaho is making a broad public
>notification about the computer theft to approximately 331,800
>individuals. The larger number represents the total number of
>individuals whose information may have been accessed by Advancement
>Services as part of the office's work at the university.
>
>The University of Idaho is following up its initial investigation with a
>complete review of its electronic and physical security measures for the
>Advancement Services and other offices. Among the other immediate steps
>being taken by the university: removing sensitive information from
>specific computing devices; installing encryption software on desktop
>and laptop systems that access sensitive information; enhancing physical
>and electronic security; and improving data management protocols
>
>
>Where can I get more information?
>
>Visit the university's resource website: www.identityalert.uidaho.edu or
>call the Identity Alert hotline at (866) 351-1860.
>
>
>**** This is an automated email message. Please do not reply as this
>email address is not monitored ***
>
>
>
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