PENNSYLVANIA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.wfmz.com/berksnews/27531947/detail.html

Theft Of College Computers May Result In Breach Of Personal Data

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Posted: 12:17 pm EDT April 13, 2011Updated: 11:28 pm EDT April 13, 2011

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READING, Pa. -- Albright College in Reading is putting its current, prospective, and former students on alert about a possible breach of their confidential information following a theft of several computers.

According to a letter distributed by Albright on Wednesday, the computers were stolen from the school's financial aid office in February.

College officials said they held off in publicizing the thefts because they first had to hire a risk management firm to sift through the data that was on the computers.

"The information on the stolen computers includes name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number, may include data supplied by students or parents, and may affect not only the supplying parties but also spouses or joint account holders, among others," Gregory E. Eichhorn, vice president for enrollment management and dean of admission at Albright, said in the letter.

Albright said as many as 10,000 people could be affected by the thefts, include current and prospective students, graduates, college faculty, and staff.

The school said it is working to notify them in writing about the thefts. Albright has also contracted with a risk consulting firm to provide them with free credit monitoring and identity theft protection.

Albright said it has also taken steps to enhance its security measures in an effort to prevent future thefts.

"We have increased evening and weekend patrols by Public Safety," said Eichhorn. "Information Technology Services will be working with departments across campus to reduce the use of confidential information in their processes and better protect necessary information, including the use of enhanced encryption technology. We are also examining policies pertaining to retention and use of documents and information."

Albright said it is cooperating with the Reading Police Department, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, and the FBI in an ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information that may be useful in the investigation is asked to contact Tom McDaniel, the school's director of public safety, or Crime Alert Berks County.

Crime Alert's toll-free number is 877-373-9913. The organization offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

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