USC Security Flap

If you recently tried applying to USC for employment or academic purposes, you may have noticed that the online application is no longer a viable option – and for good reason. Last week an official memo was issued to all individuals who used the online application system since 1999 indicating that,

“ We recently were advised that an unknown person/persons may have compromised USC’s online application database by using a “hacking” technique that permitted the unauthorized individual(s) to bypass the password requirements of the system and access certain information in the database.”

The memo goes on to say that,

“A reporter contacted our Information Security Office to advise us that he has received information from an individual who claimed to have been able to access this information while he was attempting to apply to USC online.”

The memo, signed by USC Dean of Admission on Financial Aid, Katherine Harrington, admits that a small amount of records - which also revealed individuals social security numbers – have been viewed by the hackers.

Although someone out there may have assumed your identity, USC is hoping for return customers. The FAQ portion of the memo reads, “ It ( the online application) will be live again shortly, and may already be online by the time you are reading this. Please be assured that the site will be completely secured once it is available.”

Shouldn’t that have been the case the first time?

Their solution? Get a free credit report, or contact the California State Attorney General.