PSU finds computer containing SSNs to be under botnet control

A computer containing thousands of Social Security numbers was found to be under the control of a botnet.

How many victims? 15,800.

What type of personal information? Social Security numbers.

What happened? The university discovered that a machine in the campus' Outreach Market Research and Data office was communicating with a botnet's command-and-control center. As it turned out, the computer contained a cached copy of Social Security numbers, which formerly were housed in a database that was removed from the computer in 2005 when the university stopped using the numbers as identifiers.

Details: There is no evidence the information has been exposed to criminals.

What was the response? The university plans to send out notification letters to victims.

Source: http://www.centredaily.com, Centre Daily Times, PSU notifying 15,800 on Social Security breach, June, 3, 2010.