Missing Flash Drive From Community College Puts 15,000 at Risk of Identity Theft

A college, a flash drive, Social Security numbers, and a contractor … all the familiar ingredients for a security fiasco. And yes, the blog Educational Security Incidents is reporting that Arapahoe Community College has put 15,000 current and former students at risk for identity theft because a flash drive with their names, addresses, credit-card information, and Social Security numbers was lost in early August. The records on the drive came from the college’s Corporate Learning Division, and some went as far back as 1997. A contractor had taken the flash drive for a little R&R at the Copper Mountain Resort, and it went missing. The college has cautioned those affected to watch their credit reports and asks anyone with questions to call them at (303) 797-5091. It also notes that taking the drive for a drive is against college policy. —Josh Fischman