A hacker breached a Montana State University server containing the names and personal information of 1,400 people, but officials are unsure whether the attacker obtained personal information.

What types of personal information? The server contained names and Social Security numbers.

What was the response? The university has sent letters to 1,400 people to inform them of the incident.

The letter advised students and former students on how to receive a free credit report, flag a credit file with a fraud alert and monitor accounts.

Details: The data was encrypted, according to university officials.

Affected students registered online for continuing education courses dating back to October 2005.

The incident does not affect students who signed up for classes at the registrar’s office or by mail.

Quote: “Even though we don’t believe any information was stolen, we are treating this as a serious situation and want to alert these students to the possibility that they were affected,” said Cathy Conover, university spokeswoman.

Source: Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune, Oct. 12, “MSU Server hacked, no proof personal info stolen”