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Billing glitch exposes Tennessee Tech students’ SSNs

Where did the breach take place? Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville.

How many victims? About 3,100 current and former students.

What happened? Due to a technical glitch, some bills sent to students may have contained other students' personal information.

What type of personal information? Social Security numbers and student personal IDs.

Details: The university is not sure how many of the 3,100 were affected but chose to notify those who may have been mailed a bill on the date the glitch occurred, Sept. 11.

What was the response? The university blocked access to the student web system, called police and notified the major credit reporting agencies. Students were advised to monitor their credit. The schools is implementing unspecified measures to prevent a similar incident in the future.

Quote: "Unfortunately, in this age of technology and access, even simple mistakes can have important ramifications." - Claire Stinson, vice president of business and fiscal affairs.

Source: "Technical glitch could make personal data for some TTU students vulnerable," Sept. 14, The Herald-Citizen.

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