OPP Employees at Penn State University Victims of a Virus

1,000 employees of the Office of Physical Plant (OPP) from 2000 were notified of a possible security breach on an administrative computer.

A virus was downloaded onto the OPP administrative computer sometime in February and may have possible infected files containing social security numbers and other sensitive data on the employees.

The IT department is currently searching all computers on the network to be sure no other files with Social Security numbers still exists and is accessible.

OPP administrative offices state that it’s highly unlikely that the information was accessed for the sole purpose of obtaining social security numbers, but they are taking the steps to protect those who may have been affected anyway. Details were not released. Staff should look in to the identity protection options provided or compare identity theft protection services here.

24,000 University of Toledo Students Exposed to Identity Theft

In February of this year, a computer was stolen from the University of Toledo campus.

The office in the College of Arts and Science’s administrative area showed signs of being pried open with a crowbar, even though it was locked and secure. Other doors in the same area showed signs of being attempted as well, but the administrative area was the only successful attempt.

The computer had the data of over 24,000 students and faculty from the years 2007 and up. Most educational information such as grades, etcetera, but the most important information is that of social security numbers and other sensitive, personal data.

The IT department was able to trace the machine and see if it had been accessed, but there are no signs of it being connected. The computer was password protected, and files within the system were password protected as well.

At this time, there is no knowledge that the information has been used inappropriately by the person or persons who stole the computer from the campus office. Identity theft protection is still advised however due to the breach of social security numbers.

Four Laptops Stolen from Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department

It takes a gutsy thief to steal from the police, but someone had the ambition and tools to do just that.

Four laptops were stolen from a sheriff’s cars, and the information available with these laptops is nothing to laugh at.

Private information was not stored on the laptops themselves, but the laptops do have direct access to the county data system. By being able to log into this database, one could have a lot of personal data in their hands.

Although the laptops are password protected, there is always that fear that the right hacker could gain access to the system. There are even software programs that can get an inexperienced person through the passwords. Though residents may not want to purchase identity theft protection just yet it is still recommended that you order your credit reports regularily and keep an eye on all statements for signs of identity theft.

Pentel of America Hacked

Pentelstore.com has recently sent out a letter stating that their online store was hacked during the 2008-2009 winter season, and the person had access to shopper’s personal information, that which included billing information, credit card numbers and CV2 numbers as well. It is believed that over 2,000 shoppers have been affected.

Pentel of America suggests to its customers that they keep a close eye on their financial and credit reports, and watch their statements for unsual activity.

We advise you to cancel your credit cards immediately and use a credit monitoring service to monitor your credit reports daily.

Stolen Laptop from Dezonia Group puts Chicago Hospital Patients at Risk

If you’ve taken a ride in an ambulence in the city of Chicago, is it highly likely your information is at risk.

A laptop was stolen from the Dezonia Group, a company that the city outsources it’s ambulance billing process to. Recently, a laptop computer that included sensitive information on the patients was stolen, and has yet to be found.

A letter went out to all of those who may have been affected, and they have suggested that those who have been billed for ambulance rides place fraud alerts and credit freezes on their credit reports for their own protection, although there has been no evidence of fraudulent or suspicious activity as of yet. Free credit reports are available at www.annualcreditreport.com and fraud alerts can be placed by contacting one of the three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian or Transunion.

Free credit reports are available at www.annualcreditreport.com and fraud alerts or credit freezes can be placed by contacting one of the three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian or Transunion. Patients not wanting to place fraud alerts by themselves can review fraud alert companies here on our comparison chart. The only identity protection company that helps with the process of freezing and unfreezing your credit account is TrustedID. You can read our review of TrustedID here.

Idaho National Laboratory Loses Data Disk

UPS and the Idaho National Laboratory are working together to investigate a lost (or stolen) disc that was sent through United Parcel Service that contained highly personal and sensitive information.

This disk included information such as Social Security numbers and birthdates, which is pertinent information that is used to steal identities.

Employees of the Idaho National Laboratory should keep a close eye on their credit reports and financial records to be sure there is no suspicious activity on their accounts or with their financial identity. You can do this by enrolling in a credit monitoring service.

New York Office of Payroll Administration Data Breach

Almost 4,000 city employees are frantically responding to a letter from the New York Office of Payroll Administration stating that their data may be at risk.

A document was sent through certified mail, return receipt requested, and then the office was notified that the document was not received. The receipt showed that someone signed for it, but the name is not linked to the office the package was supposed to be delivered to.

This document contained the names and Social Security numbers of city union members, and there has been no signs that the data has been used inappropriately.

This is the second major data breach in New York within weeks, another incident involving the New York Police Department.

As it is unclear whose hands the documents are in union members should consider credit protection to protect themselves from identity theft.

As if the police department didn’t have enough issues to deal with, they now are having to monitor their credit reports due to a theft the was initiated by a fellow employee.

Anthony Bonelli, the New York Police Department’s pension telecommunications director, used an expired ID to pass a security guard to get to the secured police back office in Staten Island, New York. The guard let him in after flashing his card, and he entered, unplugged everything and stole eight tapes which contained very personal data on nearly 80,000 retired and active duty police officers. This data included personal information such as addresses, Social Security numbers, medical records and direct-deposit information.

This information, if in the wrong hands, can be devastating to the police officers’ financial future. The information had been found in Bonelli’s home and police arrested him, charging him with felony counts of burglary, grand larceny, computer trespass, and he faces a $2 million bail with a maximum of 13 years in prison if convicted.

All active and retired police officers have been sent a letter regarding the data breach, and they are being offered a year of free credit monitoring to help them be proactive about protecting their identities. Officers may also want to place a fraud alert on their account or enroll with an identity protection service such as LifeLock so they are backed by a million dollar service guarantee. Identity theft insurance from other companies is void in New York for those still living there.

What makes this such a tragedy is that the addresses of police officers, if in the wrong hands, could put the officers and their families at great risk beyond identity theft. Hopefully Bonelli will get what he deserves for endangering so many.

If you have lived in the city of Muskogee, Oklahoma and you paid a utility bill, your information may be at risk

A citizen found a diskette with an official city label on it and returned it to authorities.

City officials believe that the zip disk was mixed up with surplus computer supplies that were handled by previous directors handling the office equipment.

It is believed that the information on the disk was not handled inappropriately. It included names, addresses, and some social security numbers of residents of Muskogee, mostly accounts between the year 2000 and the year 2007. Some of the addresses are of residents who have moved, but city officials are going to do their best to contact everyone and anyone that may have been affected. The disk is believed to contain some 4,500 accounts.

Generally, sensitive information is destroyed, but the city clerk believes it was an honest mistake that the diskette made it into a box with other surplus office supplies. The current director at Muskogee is aware of the issue, and has stated that he follows proper procedure when it comes to destruction of personal data.

Though we don’t know if the disk has or will get in to the hands of an identity thief it is still a good idea to check your credit reports for accuracy and enroll in one of the credit monitoring services we compare.

Laptop Stolen from Steamboat Springs School District

A stolen laptop is reason for concern for employees of the Steamboat Springs School District.

The laptop, containing some 1,300 records of former and current employees, was stolen from the office after a burglary occurred, probably sometime overnight.

Ten years worth of Social Security numbers were stored on a spreadsheet on the laptop. The computer is said to have been password protected, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the information is safe from financial misuse.

All employees of the school district have been notified of the missing laptop, and have been given credit agency information and the steps needed to be proactive about protecting their identity.

At this time, no arrests have been made for the laptop theft and property break-in, but police are still actively pursuing the case.

Employees are advised to follow all steps towards identity theft protection and to consider placing a fraud alert on their credit file.

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