Penn State Hit in Cyber Attack
Three separate attacks on the Penn State computer system have prompted the universtity to begin notifying 30,000 indivuduals that their Social Security numbers may be compromised. The three attacks are apparently unrelated occurred before Christmas where computer systems from the two main campuses and one branch campus were infected with malware.
The areas of the records involved include the Eberly College of Science with 7,758 records; the College of Health and Human Development with 6,827 records and a campus outside of University Park with 15,000 records according to a statement issued by the university.
Penn State spokesperson, Ms. Mountz said “”Let me emphasize here that while the information — in this case Social Security numbers — was in archived files on computers that were infected by malware, we do not have any indication that it was accessed by unauthorized parties. We prefer to err on the side of caution.”
Penn State assures students and faculty that the letters were sent as a precaution. At this time the effectiveness of the malware is still unknown.