KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffComputer virus may put 900 SIU alumni at risk of identity theft

Computer virus may put 900 SIU alumni at risk of identity theft

By Carly O'Keefe - bio | email

CARBONDALE, IL (KFVS) - A computer security breach at Southern Illinois University may have put hundreds of alumni at risk of identity theft.

A faculty member's computer in the Mathematics Department was found to be infected with malicious software, also known as malware. The computer virus may have had the capability to seek out information.

When the computer files were searched, university officials discovered there were social security numbers for approximately 900 students who took introductory math classes at SIU in 2004 and 2005 stored on the hard drive, potentially putting those student's identities at risk.

"Letters were sent to students to inform them of the security breach and inform them that they needed to be aware and check for any suspicious activity on their credit records," said SIU Mathematics Department Chair Andrew Earnest.

SIU Director of Public Safety Todd Sigler says one former student has reported some recent suspicious activity on her credit report that his department intends to investigate. But university spokesman Rod Sievers says there's no way to know for certain if this computer security breach had anything to do with that or if the timing was coincidental.

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