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The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE



Media Contact: Susan McKinsey, 362-5530

April 28, 2007

UNM Notifies Employees of Potentially Compromised Personal Information

University of New Mexico officials have notified, by email, approximately 3,000 employees that some of their personally identifiable information may have been stored on a laptop stolen in California earlier this week.

On Friday, April 27, UNM was notified that the laptop was taken with other computing equipment in a theft from a San Francisco office Wednesday night. An outside consultant doing work on UNM’s human resource/payroll system integration reported the laptop’s theft.

Information stored on the laptop is believed to include names, email addresses, home addresses, UNM ID numbers and net pay for one pay period for staff, faculty and a handful of graduate student employees. Without personal passwords, the ID numbers cannot be used to access any UNM systems. Also, because of the circumstances of the theft and the nature of the information on the laptop, it is believed that there is no significant risk of identity theft.

The stolen laptop may also have stored more sensitive information, including social security numbers, for seven employees whose data was being used to test the project. These individuals received separate notification, and the university on their behalf has contracted with a credit watch service.

There is no exposure to any individuals beyond those receiving notification.

Impacted employees have been advised to review a special website, www.unm.edu/ID, which contains information about credit checks and services and will help individuals identify attempts to make improper use of their personal information

 

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The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu