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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2006 New Research Center Will Study Identity Fraud Ohio University Faces Lawsuit over Data Breach Navy Discloses Information Exposure Web Site Serves as Trading Post for Teachers Report Calls E-Voting Tools Insecure NEW RESEARCH CENTER WILL STUDY IDENTITY FRAUD A new research center is being launched at Utica College in New York to study identity fraud and ways to fight the problem. The Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (CIMIP) is being developed by the Secret Service, the FBI, IBM, and LexisNexis. Norm Willox, chief executive of special services at LexisNexis, said that CIMIP will fill a gap in current efforts to understand and address identity fraud. Gary Gordon, professor of economic crime management at Utica College, will direct CIMIP, which will have access to Secret Service files to help researchers see the big picture and potentially spot patterns. James Burrus, acting assistant director of the FBI's criminal investigative division, noted that identity fraud also has implications for national security. "The FBI looks forward to the opportunity to apply CIMIP research to more effective law enforcement and protection," he said. Wall Street Journal, 28 June 2006 (sub. req'd) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115144422202392266.html OHIO UNIVERSITY FACES LAWSUIT OVER DATA BREACH Two graduates of Ohio University have filed a lawsuit following the institution's disclosure of a series of computer breaches that may have compromised personal information on about 175,000 people. After announcing a breach at one of its units in April, the university later said similar break-ins had taken place at the alumni office, the health center, and an office that handles contracts. In the wake of the problems, the university has suspended two IT staff and pledged to spend $4 million to improve computer security. An independent consultant investigating the incidents said the university had for a decade not paid enough attention to its computer security. In the suit, Donald Jay Kulpa and Kenneth Neben seek class-action status for those affected and ask the court to require the university to pay for credit-monitoring service and for any losses suffered as a result of the compromised data. Houston Chronicle, 27 June 2006 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4005150.html NAVY DISCLOSES INFORMATION EXPOSURE The U.S. Navy has become the latest in a series of federal organizations to disclose that it suffered a security breach that put personal information at risk. Following incidents at the Veterans Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Navy said five spreadsheets with sensitive information on about 28,000 Navy personnel and their families were posted on a civilian Web site. The spreadsheets included names, Social Security numbers, and birth dates. Once the problem was discovered, the Navy moved quickly to have the spreadsheets taken down, and it is working to notify those affected. Officials from the Navy said they had no evidence that any of the compromised information has been used fraudulently. Internet News, 26 June 2006 http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3616276 WEB SITE SERVES AS TRADING POST FOR TEACHERS A new Web site is designed to be a resource where teachers can sell instructional materials they have developed. For $29.95 per year, teachers can list lessons they want to sell, including lectures, quizzes, worksheets, and other materials sorted by topic and grade level. Most items cost a few dollars, and buyers do not need to be members to purchase materials. Jim Smith, a history teacher who was named New Mexico's teacher of the year a few years ago, said teachers are constantly sharing ideas and lessons they have developed and that the new Web site provides "a much wider basis" for that exchange. Jerry Caveglia, who taught for 32 years in California, said that the site could be particularly useful for new teachers, who have not had years of experience to develop a deep repertoire of lessons for different topics and for students of varying abilities. Silicon Valley, 27 June 2006 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/14914176.htm REPORT CALLS E-VOTING TOOLS INSECURE A report issued by the Brennan Center Task Force on Voting System Security claims that all three of the most commonly used e-voting systems in the United States are vulnerable to fraud but that problems with the systems can be addressed. The task force, which is an effort of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School, conducted what it called the most comprehensive study of e-voting machines, which will reportedly be used by 80 percent of U.S. voters in November's election. Officials from the task force said they hope the report will encourage state and federal officials to require vendors to address the problems. "We know how to reduce the risks," said Michael Waldman, executive director of the Brennan Center, "and the solutions are within reach." Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) has introduced a bill that would increase the security of e-voting systems. CNET, 27 June 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-7348_3-6088464.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. 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