FYI, Another Data Breach (This one with student data)

From the Washington Post.

The personal information of almost 100,000 people seeking their high school transcripts was recently exposed on a Web site that helps students obtain their records.

The site, NeedMyTranscript.com, facilitates requests from all 50 states and covers more than 18,000 high schools around the country, according to its Web site and company chief executive officer.

The data included names, addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, mothers' maiden names and the last four digits of the users' Social Security numbers. Although there is no evidence the data were stolen, privacy advocates say the availability of such basic personal information heightens the risk of identity theft.

The availability of the data appears to be the result of a flaw in the way the two-year-old site was designed. It highlights how easily sensitive personal information can be exposed with the proliferation of online businesses and services - many of which do not employ adequate security practices.

Comments

mirmac1 said…
Wonder what edupreneur cooked up that brainstorm...
Anonymous said…
With everyone still shopping at Target and Home Depot and banking at JP Morgain Chase I don't think the education warnings are getting much traction. I don't think people much care about the issue at all.

SavvyVoter
It is somewhat ironic Gate$ is pushing for so much data collection considering the lamentable record Microsoft have on security!
Catherine said…
Yes ConcernedSPSParent, ironic isn't it.

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