Hackers crack U. of Maine's counseling center servers, gain access to 4,500 student files covering 8-year span
Bangor Daily News
July 1, 2010
A data breach of computers at the University of Maine’s counseling center allowed hackers to access not only the Social Security numbers and dates of birth of students and alumni who have sought its services in the past eight years but clinical information as well.
Students or former students who visited the counseling center between Aug. 8, 2002, and June 12, 2010, should assume that they are in the affected database, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Robert Dana said at a news conference Tuesday.
Sensitive medical data related to approximately 4,585 UMaine students who used services at the counseling center for nearly eight years were exposed as a result of the attacks, Dana said. The breach was discovered June 16 when staff at the counseling center had trouble accessing records, he said.
The university’s Police Department is leading the investigation into the hacking of two UMaine computer servers on March 4 at the counseling center, Dana said. The counseling center, located at the Cutler Health Center, provides support and mental health services to the university’s student population.
“There is no indication that data were viewed, compromised or downloaded from either of these servers, but we are operating according to a worst-case scenario,” Dana said. “In any case like this, identity theft must be a top concern, and consequently we are taking strong measures to assist those whose information may have been exposed and to prevent further security intrusions.”
