Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

UNLV reports possible information security breach from 2008

Nearly 2,000 current and former UNLV employees are being notified by the university that their private information, including Social Security numbers, might have been accessed illegally in 2008.

The discovery was made during recent maintenance on a computer in the school’s Controller’s Office that revealed that an unauthorized person in December 2008 might have accessed the information, UNLV spokesman Tony Allen said Tuesday.

If a breach occurred, those affected would be at an increased risk for identity theft, according to an email sent by the school.

The employee who was assigned to the computer no longer works at UNLV, so the school has no way of confirming who accessed the file.

“There may be nothing to report. There may not have been unauthorized access,” Allen said. “This is something we do to let folks know out of an abundance of caution.”

The files in question contained information from employees, including student employees, who participated in a computer-purchasing loan program. Although Social Security numbers were part of the file, Allen said no financial information, such as bank account numbers, was included.

Allen said school officials are working on how to prevent similar data breaches, including reviewing information security policies and increasing employee training.

Those who think they might be affected but have not received an email should contact the UNLV Controller’s Office at 895-3517 or by email.

The school has also provided information on detecting identity theft and what to do if your identity is stolen.

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