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September 25, 2006, 10:51 AM ET
Big Computer Problems Bring Big Consequences
Thousands of people affiliated with Ohio University had their personal information jeopardized by an unprecedented series of computer-security breaches at the institution that left 367,000 files on students, staff, and alumni exposed to hackers over a 13-month period. Five electronic break-ins have angered and alarmed alumni and students, cost the university millions of dollars, and led to the firing of two IT administrators and the resignation of a third. Although many colleges have had breaches, Ohio’s are perhaps the most extensive.
Moreover, the electronic break-ins could have, and should have, been avoided, observers say, arguing that officials at Ohio ignored many warning signs.
The troubles at Ohio University are also proof that network breaches can have serious and far-reaching consequences. On the legal front, the university is now facing a potential class-action lawsuit by people whose data were lost. But the institution has also suffered damage to its reputation and its relationships with alumni—as evidenced by a two-foot stack of angry letters from former students, now sitting in the university’s legal-affairs office. See The Chronicle’s full article.
Categories: Security
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