Local College Students’ Personal Info Ends Up On Google

August 11, 2010

Personal information — including addresses and social security numbers — of students at Pensacola State College  and five other schools was exposed on Google due to an error by a library services company.

According to the College Center for Library Automation, the personal information was returned in certain Google searches during a five day period that followed a software update. The company said problem exposed the information of 126,000 students and faculty at Pensacola State College (the former Pensacola Junior College), Northwest Florida State College, Broward College, Florida State College at Jacksonville,  South Florida Community College, and Tallahassee Community College.

CCLA is notifying the potentially affected individuals in writing, recommending that they place a fraud alert on their credit files to minimize the risk of identity theft, and providing instructions on placing the alert.

CCLA first learned of the error on June 23, 2010, notified leaders of the colleges affected, initiated a security investigation, and began working with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Unit. Investigators discovered that some personal information had been accessed by unauthorized persons and that some was available through Google until the search engine was notified.

For more information, click here to visit CCLA’s website.

Comments

2 Responses to “Local College Students’ Personal Info Ends Up On Google”

  1. anydaynow on August 11th, 2010 11:12 am

    Kari-out of the 6 schools information on 126,000 students and staff was exposed over a 5 day period. All affected are being contacted.

  2. Kari on August 11th, 2010 10:11 am

    Does anyone know if former students are affected or just current students?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News