Source: Larry Moeder, 785-532-6420
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu
Friday, Feb. 8, 2008
FLASH DRIVE STOLEN FROM AUDITING COMPANY MAY HAVE CONTAINED PERSONAL DATA
MANHATTAN -- An employee of Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A., reported the theft of a laptop and a flash drive from his automobile. The flash drive may have contained unencrypted data relating to 23 Kansas State University current and former students.
Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A., are auditors contracted by the State of Kansas to conduct annual audits of state agencies. Every three years, auditors come to campus to conduct in-person audits.
The computer equipment was stolen Jan. 6 from an automobile belonging to an employee of Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A., while it was parked outside a Manhattan residence. Riley County police are investigating.
"There is no evidence that any student’s personal information has been misused by identity thieves," said Larry Moeder, assistant vice president in charge of admissions and student financial aid. "However, the university is notifying the affected students of the situation and the steps they can take to protect themselves."
K-State has been phasing out the use of Social Security numbers as student identification, beginning with the elimination of these numbers from university ID cards in 2006. With the implementation of a new student system in fall 2008, the university will totally eliminate the Social Security number as the student ID.
Information on preventing identity theft is available at
http://www.k-state.edu/infotech/security/topics/idtheft.html