ISU Data Breach
- Thread starter cyclonedave25
- Start date
What are the odds they will check that Latin class in 2007 that I pass/failed because I was getting like a 12%?
We're lucky the scope is rather limited to just those departments. Sounds like if the hacker really wanted to, they could have accessed a number of other records, but it sounds like they just gained access to just a small collection of servers so they "lower their risk" of drawing attention to their bitcoin operation.
Everyone knows that servers are the worst for generating bitcoins efficiently. One decent graphics card can out compute a server for bitcoins (Graphics cards are 100x better for the bitcoin algorithm)
So no... it wasn't me.
Basically bitcoins get created whenever a certain number of bitcoin transactions get verified by other computers. To verify a transaction, it takes A LOT of computing power. Now times that by like a million and that's how many transactions you need to verify before bitcoins get released to you. (It is mainly team oriented now but I don't wanna get into that). But basically the more computing power you have, the more bitcoins you can get created for you or your team. Though servers are incredibly inefficient.
It is a little more complicated than that but I don't want to get too technical here.
But my main concern is with ISU's security regarding classes and departments just straight up having social security numbers. This means that literally every department you've ever had a class in has your SS# and name attached to it. First off that is an incredibly wasteful database practice, let alone huge security concern. All a department should need is a Student ID #. I hope this triggers a massive overhaul of that system.
I honestly don't believe the "hacker" was looking for social security numbers though. If they know that this person was doing bitcoin stuff then he/she left a major trail and was very careless. He/she probably didn't even know that data was on there.
Lastly, ISU is giving you a year of data protection just like Target did. I would suggest waiting as long as possible until the final date you can sign up. If the "hacker" was trying to find out the social security numbers then they will wait until everyone's year is up. So if it is just a coupon, honestly wait 6-9 months before even making an account.
Hated that class. This is no joke, but I got F in Library 160. Only F in my life. F me.
Dang. The only Computer Science class I took was in the spring of 1996.
Of course, this was shortly after they stopped posting our grades by using our SSN. Yes, they used to post a list of SSNs in the hallway with class grades.
Crazy that we weren't worried too much about it back then. But we are worried about it now.
Of course, this was shortly after they stopped posting our grades by using our SSN. Yes, they used to post a list of SSNs in the hallway with class grades.
Crazy that we weren't worried too much about it back then. But we are worried about it now.
Think I am safe. I doubt they can get much off of the punch card they used for programing when I was there.
Also they still have that crappy comp sci class that's required but basically none of the engineer majors require it.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
All we have are Student ID#s. I've yet to have access to an SSN unless a student writes it down on something, and I'm adamant that nobody should be giving me that.
Faculty/department access to that personal info is pretty limited.
