Hacker accesses University of Florida server
An unauthorized intruder accessed a University of Florida College of Dentistry computer server containing personal information of current and former dental patients.How many victims? 344,000
What type of personal information? Names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers and dental procedure information for patients dating back to 1990.
What was the response? FBI and University Police officers are investigating the security breach. After it was discovered, the server was disconnected from the Internet to cut off the intruder's access. Letters were mailed to 336,234 breach victims; the university is trying to locate the mailing addresses for nearly 8,250 others. A hotline was established for patient inquiries. UF officials are in the process of screening up to 60,000 more computers to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.
Details: The server was being upgraded when staff found software had been remotely installed on it.
Source: Ocala.com, Star-Banner, “Hacker accesses 344,000 UF dental patient records,” Nov. 12, 2008.
