Student ID Breach Embroils Thousands From Williamson County TN

[DeSwiss]

Student ID breach embroils thousands
Williamson may offer families credit protection

The Tennessean • By MARIA GIORDANO • Staff Writer • July 11, 2008


FRANKLIN — Private information about thousands of Williamson County school children was posted on a personal Web site almost a year ago, but school officials didn't realize it until they learned that a Web-surfing child found evidence of the breach in late June. The discovery of the security violation, which could involve as many as 17,000 students and faculty members, has caused a furor among parents whose children have been affected. The greatest concern is for identity theft because of the large amount of personal information divulged on the site. That information has been taken down.

"I have read a lot of horror stories about kids whose Social Security numbers were used," said Janette Bodor of Brentwood, who got an automated call Wednesday evening from Williamson County Schools informing her that her children's identity may have been compromised online. "They find out at 16 years old they have terrible credit."

District officials will hold a news conference this morning at 11 to provide parents with more details about the breach. They hope also to give parents options to protect their children's identity. Linda Foley, a specialist in child identity theft, urged parents to stay vigilant about the possible misuse of a child's Social Security number, but said identity theft isn't likely in this case. "Unless someone knew that posting was there, they weren't looking for it in the first place and it probably went unnoticed," said Foley, founder of San Diego-based Identity Theft Resource Center.

She acknowledged, however, that the problem of identity theft among children has become more prominent in recent months. "This has got to be a parent's worst nightmare," Foley said.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/COUNTY09/807110400">MORE

- This is getting ridiculous. And I'm beginning to wonder whether or not government officials should have computers. Because its clear to me that many might do better with the old index cards....
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DeSwiss


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