Hacker strikes university computer system

Abstract

Officials at the University of California, Berkeley, this week said that a hacker had compromised the university's computer system and gained access to records on 1.4 million individuals. The data included names, Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth and were being used in research conducted by the university. The state provided the information to the university. According to Carlos Ramos, assistant secretary at the California Health and Human Services Agency, the state is allowed to disclose such information, even without the consent of the individuals, if those individuals participate in programs run by the state social services department. The incident was not disclosed until after the university and the FBI had conducted an investigation, though Ramos said they have "no idea if the information has been compromised."