MICHIGAN COLLEGE TIGHTENS SECURITY AFTER COMPUTERS STOLENGRCC tightens computer securityGRCC tightens computer security
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
By Rick Wilson
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Grand Rapids Community College student Katie Ballenger can rest easier after college officials Monday announced plans to beef up security after three laptop computers containing Social Security numbers and other sensitive information about students and staff members were stolen last month.

Ballenger, 19, a business major from Rockford, said she was not too worried after hearing about the Nov. 17 theft of the Think Pad computers from the college's financial services department. However, she did take precautions advised by the college and changed bank account numbers.

"I wasn't too worried because I don't have credit cards, but a lot of people did change their stuff," Ballenger said. "It's kind of scary, kind of stupid that all our information was on laptops."

The college will spend between $200,000 and $300,000 on added security, including installation of a computer card key system, beginning with the most-sensitive areas, such as financial services and technology and information areas.

"What I find most regrettable, aside from losing our property, is that we also lost some of the trust of our employees and our students," College President Juan Olivarez said Monday. "We can replace the equipment but trust is another matter."

The day after the theft was announced, a line of instructors formed at the Lake Michigan Credit Union branch at 25 Lyon St. NE, where most college staffers have their paychecks processed by direct deposit, branch manager Wendy Silvers said.

She said the credit union counseled members not to change their account numbers, but rather have their accounts flagged -- requiring them to show identification for withdrawals.

"The information on those computers was not enough to draw checks off their accounts," Silvers said.

Tina Koopmans, the college's interim chief information officer, said the laptops were protected by security software. She declined to be more specific, saying she did not want to give the thief a hint on how to defeat the protective program. She said only that the information was protected by "multiple passwords."

"Nobody's going to just trip across it," she said.

Olivarez told the college's board of trustees Monday that officials already have changed all the locks in the College Park Plaza building from which the computers were stolen. He said staff members have been instructed to lock and secure all laptops whenever they are not being used.

Computers also will be configured to require added passwords, encryption systems and fit with tracking software allowing them to be located if lost or stolen. More video surveillance cameras will be installed on campus.

College officials said they are not aware of any employees or students suffering a loss resulting from the theft. They said about 20 students have received $25 each from the college -- not its insurance company -- for expenses incurred protecting themselves against identity theft.