Government: September 2007 Archives

Thieves stole two computers from the Pennsylvania Public Welfare Agency that contained the personal records of people who receive medial assistance benefits for the treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems. The information stored on the computers included the names and Social Security numbers of people receiving benefits.

The department of Public Welfare has begun the process of notifying close to 375,000 people who receive benefits and who could potentially be affected by the thefts. The department is notifying patients of the steps they can take to avoid and identify identity theft.

Source: "Computers stolen from Pa. public-welfare agency had consumer info," Sept. 11, Associated Press.

Purdue University has notified 111 students that their personal information was inadvertently posted on the Internet. The information included the names and Social Security numbers of students in an Animal Sciences class that was held in the fall of 2004. The information was removed when it was discovered by a University Employee who reported the breach to Purdue's chief information security officer (CISO).

Source: The Indianapolis Star