BU Probes Unauthorized Network Access

BRANDON, MB – Following unauthorized access to a test computer system data base, Brandon University (BU) is contacting affected individuals. The data base contained information from a number of student applications from 2004 to 2009.

On Monday, October 14, the University took immediate steps to safeguard the network and data files after the unauthorized access, including shutting down the BU website and hiring a national security firm to investigate.

University President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah Poff says, “We now know that an individual accessed one of the University’s 40 network servers which held information about a number of web-based student applications. The data base included the applicant’s name, address at the time, date of birth and, in some cases, their social insurance number. No financial information or academic records were involved.”

The information was contained in a test data base which included real University applicants and fictional applicants, being used to develop a new web-based applications tool. The University is now tracing persons listed in the data base to make them aware of the situation and an information email address has been setup for inquires.

Unauthorized access of the University’s network is an illegal activity. Local police and the Office of the Manitoba Ombudsman are  investigating. The Brandon University Students’ Union has also been informed.

“I apologize for any inconvenience that this illegal hack has caused and wish to assure everyone that we have taken the steps to secure our computer system.”

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For more information, please contact:
Dr. Deborah Poff President and Vice-Chancellor 204-727-7427 Poffd@brandonu.ca	Glen Kirby Communications Officer 204-727-9762 kirbyg@brandonu.ca

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