Yale University Sued Over 2008 Data Breach

Yale University Sued Over 2008 Data Breach

In a letter to those affected by the 2008 data breach, Yale said the breach was discovered on June 16, 2018, during a security review of its servers. After the university discovered the breach, it notified those affected and offered credit monitoring services and identity theft prevention tips.

Two lawsuits have been filed in federal court against Yale University. Both lawsuits are claiming damages from a 2008 data breach at Yale, which was discovered earlier this year.

Between April 2008 and January 2009, intruders gained access to a Yale database and gathered names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, email addresses, and in some cases, physical addresses.

In a letter to those affected by the data breach, Yale said the breach was discovered on June 16, 2018, during a security review of its servers. After the university discovered the breach, it notified those affected and offered credit monitoring services and identity theft prevention tips.

A class-action lawsuit filed this week on behalf of Andrew Mason of Virginia claims that Yale was negligent in its handling of student data and that the university was reckless and acted with “willful misconduct” as it “turned a blind eye to” possibilities of a prior data breach. It also claims that the university used unfair trade practices.

A federal lawsuit on behalf of Julie Mason of New York was filed in August. The lawsuit also claims negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness and unfair trade practices. In addition, it claims that Yale had still not notified everyone who was affected as of Aug. 1, six weeks after discovering the data breach.

The breach affected an estimated 119,000 Yale alumni, faculty and staff, according to the lawsuits. One of the lawsuits claims that the breach affected a far broader group of people than initially identified by Yale, and that Yale did not make people aware that this type of their personal data had been stored.

In its letter to those affected, Yale said that the university had deleted personal information from the affected database in 2011 as part of a data protection program, but had not detected the data breach at that time.

“Yale takes seriously the protection of personal information, and we continue to improve our electronic security and eliminate the unnecessary storage of such information,” the university’s statement to those affected read. “We very much regret this incident and the inconvenience to you.”

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.