Hacker steals data on 61,000 students from US university

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — A hacker has broken into computers at Sonoma State University in California and stolen personal information on about 61,000 students, according to the college.

An unidentified online marauder invaded seven staff computers at the college, situated in Sonoma County's wine region, in July by exploiting "a previously unknown weakness" in an operating system, university officials reported.

The computer break-in was announced Monday.

It was undetermined what information may have been plundered from the computers, which contained student names and Social Security numbers that could be used for potential fraud by identity thieves.

"Unfortunately, in our high-tech world, some find it a challenge to 'break in' to computers," the college...