UT Dallas says computer hack may have affected more people

by Blair Lovern

All individuals employed between 1999 and 2005 potentially have had sensitive information exposed. A song clip is included in the story to add atmosphere, like you are Bill Kurtis from an A&E documentary.

An update from UTD, regarding the compromised computer records (hack, raid, breach, jackass onslaught, oopsie, etc). For added effect, play this song in another window and read the story out loud like you are the narrator of an A&E documentary.

Further analysis of networked computing resources at the University of Texas at Dallas indicates that all individuals employed between 1999 and 2005 potentially have had sensitive information exposed by a computer network intrusion.

The information that may have been exposed includes names and Social Security numbers, and in some cases addresses, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers.

There continues to be no indication that the information has been disclosed, disseminated or used to anyone’s detriment at this time. The approximate overall number of affected individuals has increased to 6,000.

To recap, the individuals whose information is known to be involved at this time include:

In the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, students and faculty as well as applicants for admission dating back as far back as 1993.

All staff and faculty of the University who were employed from January 1999 through August 2005.

Investigation continues. Updated information will be issued via email and the University homepage, www.utdallas.edu. The University is in the process of contacting those individuals whose information could have been exposed. Individuals who are concerned that they might be affected by this intrusion are encouraged to go to https://www.utdallas.edu/datacompromise/form.html to submit contact information so that the University can respond, or call 972-883-4325 to leave contact information. Further information about protecting yourself (whether your information has been disclosed or not) is available at utdallas.edu/datacompromise/.

Information resources staff will continue to assess and respond to the situation. As a part of that assessment, University computers are being automatically checked by a program that is continuously sweeping the network to search out attempted intrusions. If the sweep detects irregular activity, it will generate instructions regarding any action you need to take. To assist with this process, be sure to log off of your computer at the end of your work day, and to log on at the beginning.

I want to express my encouragement and gratitude to staff in Information Resources as well as other departments throughout campus who have so cooperatively pulled together to address this challenge. Your many extra efforts are acknowledged and deeply appreciated.

Dr. David E. Daniel

President

The University of Texas at Dallas