Explore the latest news and trends  

Sign up for our weekly security newsletter


Be the first to receive important updates on security





Send

Hackers Strike University of Missouri’s Computer System

On May 8, 2007, University of Missouri's help line was flooded with phone calls from anxious callers following the University's announcement that its computing system had been attacked in the first week of May and that the identities and Social Security numbers of 22,396 users had been stolen.

The cyber-terrorist retrieved the data through a Web page enquiring about the problem report's position at the university's call center located in Columbia. The data had been collected for a report, but hadn't been eliminated from the computing system.

The cyber-terrorists, using Australian and Chinese domain names, intercepted a report carrying data on the current or ex-pupils of the Columbia University hired by one of the university's four campuses in 2004, alleged Scott Charton, Missouri University's spokesman according to a report issued on May 9, 2007 by STLtoday.

As per a message conveyed to workers and a webpage on the attack, the event took place on May 4, 2007. An unidentified cyber-terrorist garnered data containing identities and Social Security numbers by making numerous inquiries for a prolonged stretch of time, letting the names to be revealed one by one.

The IT personnel initially detected a trouble on May 3. The MU Police when informed on Monday May 7 started their investigations, and later they brought in the FBI.

"The University of Missouri takes a extremely stern view of this violation and is trying to warn the people whose data was illegally procured, containing directions about how they may supervise their credit history for dubious activity. The University has been and will keep on working tirelessly to safeguard personal information contained within its computer systems. We are also teaming up with the police in our probe of this incident," the university notified in a handout, released by Bizjournals on May 8, 2007.

The university is reaching those impacted by the recent violation and offering advice on ways to check their credit histories and other financial reports for dubious activity, functionaries stated.

Specific cautionary is put on those whose credit records are addressed by one of these national credit-reporting bureaux - Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 5/17/2007

3 simple steps to update drivers on your Windows PCSlow PC? Optimize your Slow PC with SLOW-PCfighter!Email Cluttered with Spam? Free Spam Filter!

Dear Reader

We are happy to see you are reading our IT Security News.

We do believe, that the foundation for a good work environment starts with fast, secure and high performing computers. If you agree, then you should take a look at our Business Solutions to Spam Filter & Antivirus for even the latest version of Exchange Servers - your colleagues will appreciate it!

Go back to previous page
Next