It covered 1,000 students between 2005 & 2006.
Frederick, Md (KM) The Frederick County Public School System says it was the victim of a data breach about ten years ago that affected 1,000 students who attended local public schools at some point between November, 2005 and November, 2006. The breach included names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth.
Officials say the breach was brought to the attention of the school system by a former student who found his data on a website. The FBI was notified, and an investigation was begun.
FCPS says in a statement it also began working with MSDE, law enforcement, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the State Technology Department to begin an immediate investigation into the breach. Local public schools also worked with the Multi-State Information and Analysis Center.
That investigation has been completed, and FCPS says it followed all applicable laws in its reporting and investigation of this data breach. It also introduced protocols which did not interfere with the investigation by law enforcement.
In a statement, officials say this data breach occurred before 2010, prior to many changes being made in security protocols by the Maryland State Department of Education and the local Public School System.
Frederick County Public School says it will notify students who may have been affected by this data breach.
Anyone who has questions or wants information on this breach is asked to e-mail the FCPS information security department at [email protected], or they can call 301-644-5332.
By Kevin McManus