Another university data base has been hacked. This time, it is the Duke University Law School:

“Hackers, possibly trying to embed links to improve search engine result rankings, may have viewed the sensitive information of 1,400 prospective applicants to Duke University on the institution’s law school website, school officials said today.”

link: Duke University Law School website infiltrated by hackers

This is like a ‘jackpot breach’ for the hackers. The social security numbers of these law school applicants were compromised. This data base is especially attractive because the candidates for law school presumably would have a clear criminal history and sound financial standing. That unblemished background, plus the social security numbers, is just ideal for an identity thief. Officials are hoping that the hackers did not realize what they had accessed. On the other hand, what if the hackers did know what they had accessed?

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Tags: hackers, data breach, privacy, security, identity theft, duke university, law school, social security numbers, criminal history