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Computer systems at universities across the nation are becoming favorite targets of attack as hackers realize that colleges hold many of the same records as banks but are easier to break into.

Colleges accounted for the largest percentage, roughly 30%, of computer security breaches reported in the media last year, according to ChoicePoint, a consumer data-collecting firm in Georgia. Between April 21, 2006 – when our breaches were first discovered—and August 9, 2006, at least 711,886 people have had sensitive information jeopardized in 20 more security failures at colleges nationwide, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

Protecting the University’s information and information technology assets is everyone’s responsibility. While a connection to the Internet provides you with access to many useful resources, it also presents many dangers. The lack of anti-virus software on one faculty member’s computer or a single inadvertent download of malicious code by a staff member can put our entire network at risk.

References

Doan, L. "College Door Ajar for Online Criminals." Los Angeles Times (May 30, 2006).

Hawkins, B. and Oblinger, D. "The Myth About IT Security." EDUCAUSE Review (May/June 2006)

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Ohio University
Information Security
740.593.1222
security @ ohio.edu