The Park Hill School District in Kansas, United States, announced that the personal data of more than 10,000 former students and employees is likely at risk, as it was leaked online.
This data includes social security numbers, student registrations, personnel information, and employee ratings.
The sensitive data was leaked onlinedue to the carelessness of a former employee, and is estimated to have been accessible to anyone for several months.
According to representatives of the educational institution, the former employee downloaded the files to a hard drive without authorization. When the employee connected the drive to his personal computer and after connecting to his home network, the data was accidentally leaked onto the internet.
The educational institution said it worked immediately with the employee, the FBI, and Googleto remove the files from the internet.
So far, no evidence has emerged to prove the interception or misuse of personal data, however, the institution proactively informed all those affected, and provided them with free identity verification services, helping them protect themselves from fraud.
