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Data Breach at Butler University Exposes Personal Data of Nearly 200,000

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Butler University is the latest victim of data breach.

Personal information including names, birth dates, driver's license, social security numbers and bank account details of nearly 200,000 people was exposed after hackers got an access to the school's network, sometime between November 2013 and May 2014.

"Third-party computer forensics experts were retained by the Butler University to confirm these findings and to identify the full extent of data potentially exposed as a result of this incident," President Jim Danko wrote in a letter, WISHTV reports.

The university officials have suggested former and current campus community members to watch their bank accounts and credit scores.

The Indianapolis school became aware of the hacking incident last month when California authorities detained an identity theft suspect who had a flash drive with Butler employees' personal information on it.

"Unfortunately, we do think it's a remote hacking," said university spokesperson Michael Kaltenmark. "The suspect that's been arrested has no affiliation with Butler University," WTHR reports.

As a result of the data breach, the University is offering resources to those whose information might have been exposed. They are providing a year-free credit monitoring to these people. The university also learnt their systems' vulnerabilities and have upgraded them to prevent a similar incident hereafter.

Danko said that the school is also offering an activation code that must be used by September 30 for a complimentary membership to Experian - a fraud protection service. They have also installed an assistance phone line supervised by professionals qualified in identity protection and restoration.

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