Data Breach Alert: Stolen laptop puts Cornell students at risk

Posted by Caitlin on June 29th, 2009

Earlier this month, a laptop was stolen from Cornell University. The stolen laptop contained names and Social Security numbers for 22,546 current and former students and 22,731 faculty and staff members. In violation of Cornell's policy, the laptop was left in a physically insecure environment, and the names and Social Security numbers were not encrypted. New York State Police have launched an investigation to find the thief and recover the laptop. Cornell is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft restoration services to those whose identities have been compromised.

Lost or stolen laptops are a major cause of data breaches. Even if the missing computer does not contain a database of sensitive personal data, in the wrong hands, it can be scoured for useful information that puts the owner at risk. For tips on how to mitigate this risk, see our "How to deal with a lost or stolen laptop" guide. And see our reviews and comparison chart for more information about credit monitoring or identity theft protection services.