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Laptop storage puzzles students
By William Hall
When identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation, why was personal information for 44,000 people kept on a laptop – a lightweight, easy-to-steal (and sell) device?
“We’re still scratching our heads on that one,” said Mike Droney, vice president of information and services technology at CSU. “It’s not university policy.”
Someone walked out of the university admission office with the laptop late last month.
According to the campus police report, Amanda Westlake, project manager for the Student Services Department called police at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27, to report the crime.
She told police that the laptop and its docking station – valued together at $2,900 – were stolen that afternoon, sometime between 12:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m.
Ed Mills, vice provost for enrollment services, said the computer was in an office not open to the public and was the responsibility of an administrative assistant.
The Gateway M275 contained names, addresses and Social Security numbers of more than 44,000 students, both former and current, and university applicants. Droney said that not all current students’ information is on the laptop.
Mills said the investigation into the theft continues and there have been no reports of anyone’s personal information being used.
“Though the file on the computer does contain Social Security numbers, there are no financial records or credit card numbers,” Mills said. “Whoever has the laptop would need passwords to gain access and then have to be able to understand the data base.”
University officials believe the crime was one of opportunity and not done for the information. However, CSU recognizes the possibility of identity theft occurring because of the crime and has been sending letters to those whose information was on the laptop.
Matt, a history major, and his wife, a 2003 CSU graduate are not happy. (Matt asked that his last name not be used).
“My wife got the letter and then spent 10 hours over two days calling the credit bureaus,” Matt said. “Having something like this happen is somewhat understandable if a server is hacked, but for this type of information to be on a laptop is utter stupidity and incomprehensible.”
Matt said he agrees that the crime was probably one of opportunity, perhaps for the crook to make a quick sell, but worries that a buyer may tap into the data stored on the machine.
Kiersten Ferner, a nursing major, didn’t know about the theft until told of it by a staff member of the Stater.
“Why was personal information like that on something so mobile?” Ferner asked. “It’s seems irresponsible for the school to allow something like this to happen.”
Mills said many people have called him with more questions and to thank the university for notifying them of the potential threat to their identity.
He said that while most calls have been positive, there have been some callers that have expressed anger about the incident.