A former University of Nebraska-Lincoln student is facing a federal criminal charge because prosecutors say he hacked into a database of more than 650,000 student, alumni and employee records last spring.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A former University of Nebraska-Lincoln student is facing a federal criminal charge because prosecutors say he hacked into a database of more than 650,000 student, alumni and employee records last spring.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports (http://bit.ly/Pu0WWf ) that 22-year-old Daniel Stratman made his initial court appearance last week.
Prosecutors said Stratman, who was studying computer science and math, accessed a protected computer without permission. The database that was broken into held records from the University of Nebraska's campuses and the Nebraska State College System.
Officials have said they don't believe any sensitive information in the database was downloaded. The database included information from current and former students, university applicants, alumni and employees dating to spring 1985.
"There hasn't been any evidence to lead to the conclusion that private information was used or jeopardized," UNL spokeswoman Kelly Bartling said.
But the University of Nebraska's information security officer Joshua Mauk said in June that the university was re-evaluating its online security plans because of the incident.
University officials identified Stratman as a suspect last May based on the computer IP address that was used to access the system. Prosecutors say the database was breached sometime between April 24 and May 24.
Stratman was listed as a senior at UNL last May, but wasn't attending the school this fall. Bartling said she couldn't discuss any disciplinary action the university may have taken against Stratman because such records are private.
Prosecutors said Stratman's actions caused a loss of at least $5,000 because of the resources the university used to investigate and respond to the security breach.
Stratman's attorney, Bob Creager, declined to comment. Stratman faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is convicted.
Stratman was released on his own recognizance, but his computer use will be monitored while the case is pending. He is scheduled for an arraignment on Jan. 8.
---
Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(Image courtesy of Stock.xchng)
