SSNs Among Stolen U Of MN Data Dating Back 3 Decades: Officials

MINNEAPOLIS — A computer hacker gained unauthorized access to University of Minnesota student, prospective student, parent, and employee data going back to 1989, officials confirmed Thursday.

On July 21, officials learned of someone who claimed to have posted sensitive data from one of the university's databases.

The university said it immediately began investigating and determined that a person likely gained unauthorized access to the database in 2021.

The exposed information includes:

• An individual’s full name, address, birth date, telephone number, race and ethnicity
• Social Security number, driver’s license, or passport information
• University identification number or employment information
• Other information that was provided to the university through a student's application, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, or loan information

No donation, medical treatment, password, or credit card information was in the exposed database, officials said.

The university is providing free credit monitoring services for people impacted by the leak. Notices will be sent from [email protected] to people potentially affected and have an email address on file with the university.

Approximately two million people will be emailed, a university spokesperson told the Star Tribune.

Six lawsuits from former students, employees, and others have so far been filed against the university over the data breach.

People can contact the university's dedicated call center established to address questions about this incident at (866) 731-3070.

Find out more information on the data leak at the university website.