A hacker has breached a northwestern Iowa university's database, exposing nearly a quarter-century's worth of Social Security numbers and other sensitive information belonging to 93,000 people to potential misuse, the school said Friday.
Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, said there is no indication that anyone has been victimized.
The incident is being turned over to federal authorities in Minneapolis for criminal investigation, the school said. It is offering free credit monitoring to potential victims.
Along with Social Security numbers, the compromised data include the names and some driver's license numbers for students (applicants and enrollees), parents and staff members dating as far back as 1987.
Buena Vista President Fred Moore, citing the ongoing investigation, was cautious in explaining why the school was compelled to refer the case to federal authorities outside of Iowa.
"The facts that are particular to the case argued for us to refer it [to Minneapolis]," he said. "I can't get into it any more than that."
The school said the breach was first detected last month by computer forensics experts, and letters are being sent to everyone affected. About 5,000 of those letters were sent to Minnesota, Buena Vista President Fred Moore said.
The school enrollment ranges from 2,600 to 2,700 annually. After Iowans, Minnesotans account for the largest number of students there, Moore said.
PAUL WALSH
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