Almost 1,400 students are now at risk after their Social Security numbers were mistakenly attached in an e-mail

The University of South Carolina made a mistake when up to 1,400 students' Social Security numbers were accidentally e-mailed to other USC students.  The mistake was made when a department chairwoman attached a wrong file while sending e-mails to students about classes in the summer.

The university is now in the process of eliminating Social Security numbers so students no longer have to use it for tasks like checking grades and using school computers.  Chief information officer Bill Hogue says the transition will not be completed until the fall semester of 2007, which leaves plenty time for the same mistake to potentially happen again.  The Associated Press reports:

"By and large, most have been understanding it was an inadvertent action," university spokesman Russ McKinney said Friday. "There have been a handful that were rather upset that this may have happened."


Source : DailyTech