KNOXVILLE –- University of Tennessee officials are notifying employees and other individuals affiliated with UT that a computer hacker broke into a UT computer containing a database that held personal information about them, but there is no indication the hacker accessed or used any of the information.
The hacker apparently used the computer to store and transmit movies without UT’s authorization.
About 36,000 employees, student employees and others associated with the university were on the database that included names, addresses and Social Security numbers. Those on the database were employed by UT on or before August 2005.
The hackers’ activities occurred during a nine-month period, from August 2005 to May 2006.
“Although we have no indication the hacker accessed or used the personal information, we are taking the precaution of notifying everyone whose information was on the database and urging them to take steps to protect themselves,” said Brice Bible, assistant vice president for information technology.
“We regret that this has happened and have conducted a thorough investigation. Every precaution is being taken to safeguard security, including a thorough review of file storing and sharing and strengthening security measures in the affected area,” Bible said.
UT has set up a toll-free hotline to help answer questions for affected persons. That number is (866) 748-1680. The help line will be operational Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, starting July 7. Affected persons can find additional information at UT’s Information Security Office Web site, http://security.tennessee.edu.
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Contacts:
Amy Blakely, (865) 974-5034, amy.blakely@tennessee.edu