UF Says Laptop Containing 8,000 Names Was Stolen

EYE ON THE FORECAST
A cool Saturday morning, then becoming partly to mostly sunny, but windy and chilly. Even colder on Sunday.
High: SAT PM: 60 Low: SAT AM: 43

Find out ways to make Moms Life Easier in North Florida - South Georgia - MOMSEVERYDAY

Get half off certificates to your favorite local merchants - Double Dollar Deals!

Fog/Mist

Temp: 51.0 F (10.6 C)

More Weather

Tallahassee Regional Airport, FL

Back to HomePage
Posted: 11:51 PM Sep 1, 2010 UF Says Laptop Containing 8,000 Names Was Stolen A University of Florida laptop with personal information on more than 8,300 people has been stolen. Reporter: AP

Font Size:

Gainesville, FL (AP) - A University of Florida laptop with
personal information on more than 8,300 people has been stolen.
University officials said this week that the computer had
information about current and former students and employees of a
"laboratory school" affiliated with the university's College of
Education.
The university said the laptop did not have any credit card,
academic records or medical information and that the files were
protected with passwords. So far, school officials have mailed
letters to 841 people explaining that their information was
included in the breach. Additional letters will be mailed next
week.
The laptop was stolen in San Francisco in July.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Business Continuity Location: Tallahassee on Sep 2, 2010 at 04:24 PM

I've worked in the Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery field for a years. There are compelling reasons why some job or events would require data storage for transition or recovery operations. It is strickly a job function or requirement. But the new encryption software for laptops works in less then a minute during boot time and provide 256 bit encryption. Companies or agencies that don't encrypt are simply not paying attention to risk management and the costs of not doinf "smart" business.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 2, 2010 at 12:58 PM

Encryption on the whole drive brings along other issues. The BIG question is - why was this data on a laptop. There is no need for this data to leave the office. A laptop should be able to provide access back to the office over a secure VPN so the user can access any data they need to without the actual data being on the laptop. UF needs to find out if any policies were followed with this data being on a laptop and if not, the employee should be punished for violating policy. As far a having the laptop itself stolen, it happens, and I don't think that employees are usually held accountable for equipment. How many work phones are lost, stolen, or broken each year? The only difference between the laptop and a phone is the data that is on the laptop.

Posted by: gary Location: tallahassee on Sep 2, 2010 at 09:39 AM

Maybe with all the lost and stolen laptops with the state and universities, that they should just stop using laptops. Are the employees that have these lap tops responsible for them?? Do they have to replace them if they get lost or stolen while they are using them?? Why was a laptop from Gainsville in california anyway??? We need to make people responsible for things. This employee needs to be required to replace this lap top at their own expense. If we start making them responsible, you will see less state property being lost or stolen. I see that it was a state laptop stolen and not this persons personal laptop. guess they keep a closer eye on their own that they have to pay for.

Click here to post or read all 5 comments.