Many negatively affected by U. of Michigan breach update

Oi there, mate! Let’s do a little chat about something that happened across the pond a while back, shall we? You know, at one of those fine US universities. Michigan, to be precise. Cast your mind back to August 2023 – while they may be thick as dishwater about their cricket, they had a tough go of it with a proper serious cyber breach. Sounded like a regular science fiction horror, it did.

So here’s what went down. On the twenty-third of August, the Uni chaps spotted some dodgy goings-on in their campus network. As they realised something’s rotten in the state of Michigan, they swiftly rustled up a team and cut the net, as if they were lopping off a gangrenous arm. They called in the big guns too – top-notch external cybersleuths – and vaulted headfirst into their investigation.

And what they discovered wasn’t pretty, I tell you. They concluded that this unwelcome third party had been nosing about their virtual paperwork from the 23rd to the 27th of August – a proper four days’ worth of mischief.

Then there was the question of what these blackguards actually pilfered. The nerdy chaps set up a crack team, who went through the data like a gorilla through a banana plantation, trying to sort out what had gone walkabout. Not a blade of grass was left unturned in their mission, mates.

And boy, did they find a bounty that had gone missing. The bad uns had gained access to personal bits and bobs belonging to students and would-be students, old boys and gals, charitable souls, the staff there, and folks under contract. Even patients of the Uni’s health service and dental school! Seems like everyone and their dog had information at risk.

So what kind of information are we talking about? Well, for the students, applicants, alumni, donors, employees, and contractors, they might have lost their Social Security number, driver’s license or other government-issued ID number, bank account or payment card number, and/or health information. As for the research study volunteers and health service patients, they might have misplaced a fair bit of demographic info, like Social Security numbers or driver’s licenses. Possibly even their financial details, clinical information from the Uni’s health service, or particulars associated with research study participation. A royal mess, I daresay.

So there you have it – a regular potboiler right there in the hallowed halls of academia. Goes to show – always keep one hand on your virtual wallet and the other on your hat because you never know who might be peeking over your shoulder in cyberspace. Cheers for now!

by Parker Bytes