Virus Infects Computer at CCSU

CCSU has just declared that one PC-virus contaminated a system at the business office of the university causing possible leakage of personal data belonging to over 18,000 present and erstwhile students, staff and faculties, according to CBS' report dated February 16, 2012.

The virus, which perpetrated the infection, was a variant of the malevolent software, ZBot said James Estrada, Spokesman of the university. According to him, except for the Social Security Numbers, no other private detail was compromised. Ctpost.com reported this on February 16, 2012.

Estrada said that a forensic examination was conducted, though it couldn't help in finding out whether there was unauthorized use of any data or whether it was stolen, while it was determined that the mentioned data was at risk for an 8-day period during the early days of December. Moreover, Estrada said that immediately when the virus was noticed, school authorities took action towards safeguarding its stored data via disconnecting the affected PC from the Net.

Thereafter, President Miller sent out an electronic mail to everybody inside the campus expressing apologies for any worry or inconvenience the virus attack might've caused them. As the incident was duly dealt with, everybody who was involved realized the extent of importance of one's private data as also the criticality in protecting it. Miller added that he was assuring readers how together with the school's Information Technology Office, and the Board of Regents System Office, work was ongoing towards stopping any such happening in future.

Accordingly, the university, currently, was listing inmates' names as well as addresses against their respective SSNs, while informing those who might've experienced a compromise of their information how they could get ID-theft and credit protection.

Cautioning the campus people rather urgently regarding the incident, CCSU declared that the University was providing non-chargeable services for identity safeguard that would continue for 2-yrs at the most, through Debix, a firm which worked independently towards restoration and safeguard of Personal Identification Information and credit details.

And while no other detail like name/residential address got leaked out, the University posted another web-page: www.ccsu.edu/FAQ for answering queries of the inmates.

Related article: Virus Infects Through USB Drives

» SPAMfighter News - 2/21/2012