UC Berkeley hacking leaves 160,000 at risk of ID theft

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
81

<p>At first glance that seems to be a pretty good analogy but if you mull it over, it actually sucks. </p>

<p>Berkeley != Criminals, the hackers are. If you had made an attempt to sue the criminals I’m sure you’d have everyone backing you, including your own institution. But hey man, you’re trying to sue the wrong people. </p>

<p>In this case, Berkeley was the victim, so if you’re suing them, it’s like kicking someone while they’re down. Berkeley can’t stop the hackers from going into the system, they can only try and prevent it. I mean if a woman on the street were buying groceries and she was mugged and had her purse stolen would you sue the woman because she didn’t try hard enough to fight back and now can’t feed her family, or would you go after the thug who mugged her? I understand, you’re mad because you’re a victim of identity theft, but try and direct your anger in the right direction: after the criminal, not the victim.</p>

82

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<p>The hackers were responsible, but it’s also Berkeley’s fault for not being prepared and letting such a thing happen. Why were our records on the same webserver that hosts the uhs webpage in the first place?!! Besides, I don’t see why it can’t just store the information in an isolated environment.
And our data wasn’t encrypted either! Who in their right minds does NOT ENCRYPT such SENSITIVE information! It could have at least made it more difficult for such hackers to get our data.</p>

<p>The least Berkeley can do is help share the cost of identity fraud monitoring.</p>

83

<p>Berkeley isn’t a victim…it’s not even a person. The victims are the students and alumni that hand over private information for Berkeley to use in case of emergencies and such (thereby, the institution should protect this info). Your analogy works as though the hackers got to each of our computer’s and took the info, but it’s really like you giving the lady a credit card and her telling you that she’ll keep it safe, but then decides to walk in the worst parts of Oakland at night while flashing a purse and a diamond necklace.</p>

<p>I’m not too enthralled about suing the University but I am disappointed. If it’s happened more than once in the last four years, then I might be leaning towards suing, but since this is only my first experience, I’m just mad…especially now that it’s finals week and they took so damn long to inform us.</p>

84

<p>Oh. the. irony. </p>

<p>Not regarding the university. Not about the hackers. But some of the students here, and I’m sure some students elsewhere. I’m sure part of the reason you feel victimized is because when you turned over personal information, there was trust inherent in that transaction, that your information will be kept safe and confidential. And now some unknown joker enters the picture and asks you to contact him or her-- asking you to share your email address-- and you jump into the fray. Oh but don’t worry, you can trust him or her, he or she won’t forward your email to spammers or do anything sinister with your contact info. </p>

<p>Ever hear of the term “ambulance chaser”? There’s a reason why some lawyers arrive at the scene of the crime. It’s to capitalize on the fear and anger of the victims when they’re most mentally unstable, vulnerable. The victim always feels wronged in some way, and the idea of some form of compensation or reprisal sure sounds appealing, doesn’t it? </p>

<p>I love how this lawsuit is being packaged as charity, the idea that this lawsuit is a proactive approach, preventative measure that will help ensure that future generations of students won’t be subjected to the same crime. It’s the only way to keep the university accountable! <em>rolls eyes</em></p>

<p>And the tears-- OH, THE TEARS-- streaming from that one individual about being a victim multiple times… just breaks my heart, NOT. If you want to hear bogus testimony, you can click here: [AsSeenOnTV.com</a> - The Official Site for As Seen On TV - Best Prices! - Order Now! 866-277-3366](<a href=“http://www.asseenontv.com/]AsSeenOnTV.com”>http://www.asseenontv.com/)</p>

<p>Exaggerated analogies reak of desperation. It apparently works on some very intelligent, albeit very young and naive, individuals. </p>

<p>Would it be shocking to anyone if this person who is trying so hard to convince you he or she’s a student (named “ucstudent” and introduces him or herself as a “UCB student”), actually turns out to be a StanfUrd student out for cheap chuckles? It’s not like he or she just recently joined, after the fact… oh wait… </p>

<p>No, I’m not immune, I received the same email saying that my information had been compromised.</p>

<p>Why did the university wait for several weeks to publically announce? They needed to take the intial measures to cut off the hackers’ access and collect information in moving forward: examine the extent of the damage, determine what sorts of the information might have been stolen, identify where the breach occurred and where else it might spread, estimate the duration, populate a list of who might have been effected, and to contact the appropriate authorities to monitor this situation. Organizing a 24-hour data theft hotline doesn’t occur overnight, either. If you were expecting a twitter message from Chancellor Birgeneau, “Hey kids, your SSN might’ve been stolen. more l8er,” you are sadly mistaken. </p>

<p>Wish that common sense were a university requirement.</p>

85

<p>When you see a fire in your home, how long do you take to assess how much damage it has done, is doing, or will possibly do? I’m guessing just milliseconds. Following that, any sane person would go put out that fire.</p>

<p>Obviously the university doesn’t want to set off an alarm, but i think it’s still important to tell students as soon as possible what has happened.</p>

86

<p>I see the Cal student body has fallen a long way from its 1960’s roots. Where were the days of protesting against the Regents? When the students were largely independent from the administration. Instead today we have an ASUC board which is little more than a puppet organization with members who only care to use the positions as a bonus on their resumes. I don’t think we should sue the university, but something must be done. At the very least, we should have those responsible fired and hold them accountable for their actions.</p>

87

<p>To the person who has no sympathy for my identity theft and rolls his/her eyes…you are sick. First of all, I AM a UCB student, I AM dealing with identity theft. The last thing I want is for any other student to go through what I have. I’ve put myself through school ENTIRELY with no help from anyone. I struggled to work and go to school and then I had to deal with this identity theft. I do NOT want ANYONE else to go through this. The last thing any student needs is a HUGE distraction like identity theft.
You think that the University is like a poor woman trying to feed her kids? Are you kidding me? If you only knew how the University ****es away money. </p>

<p>The point is this: The University did NOT provide adequate encryption (none at all!) for the private information of the students. That is it. That is the point. </p>

<p>The point of starting a class action lawsuit is to come together to make some demands. These things don’t always end up in court if demands are met. UCB is no victim. You are so ridiculous. But remember, when you or someone you love experiences identity theft, I hope you remember how mean you were to “roll your eyes” and blatantly say you don’t care about my experience (and call me a liar). But, nonetheless, I hope it doesn’t happen to you. I have nothing else to say.</p>

88

<p>How do we know you aren’t a lawyer, joining this board right after the disclosure by Cal to whip up a class action suit from which you and your firm will benefit the most?</p>

89

<p>LOL. This is like follow the villager with the fire and everyone else behind him has pitchforks. No harm in playing with this idea on a discussion board is the way I see it. If he/she wants to really bring the case forward, a CC discussion board is NOT the way to go about it, considering how only so many people frequent this specific board.</p>

90

<p>Those of you saying that suing the school would be stupid because it would raise fees, etc. do not understand how these types of lawsuits work. I guess this is a good thing, since you haven’t been tainted yet by our litigious society.</p>

<p>Large institutions (which I would consider UC Berkeley to be) are sometimes sued for even $1. The point is not to fleece them of money and get a big pay day. Besides, you’d have to prove that you suffered a large amount of monetary damage if you were suing for money (they’d laugh at you if you asked for $ for pain and suffering). The point is that a lawsuit is THE only thing that will get an institution like Berkeley to change and do the right thing. I feel that they have been negligent without question. Now we have to ask ourselves, what will force their hand and make them actually address this issue and never let it happen again? If they get away with it, they won’t change anything. Why not? Well, why should they? It’s like getting a $2 speeding ticket. Would that stop you from speeding?</p>

<p>So my question is…to those that think a lawsuit would be stupid, if it were for $1 with the mere purpose to enact change, would you support it?</p>

91

<p>no because the university would have to pay the winning law firms fees, on top of the $1, and that plus the UCs own legal bills would run to real money. If on the other hand a law firm agreed to do this for zero fees because they wanted justice and not simply revenue plus profit . . .</p>