Hacker Breaks into UC Berkeley Computer with Records of Residents

Oct. 20, 2004
Data contained personal info on more than 1 million state residents

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Federal and state officials are investigating a hacker attack on a computer at the University of California, Berkeley, that contained the personal data of more than 1 million state residents.

Officials say they haven't determined whether any personal data was taken and they also haven't seen signs of identity theft. The FBI, the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Social Services are investigating.

The database included recipients of the In-Home Supportive Services program, which is funded by the state and federal government and provides assistance to the elderly and disabled.

The data includes home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers.

The information was being used by a UC-Berkeley researcher authorized to work on the IHSS program.