Quick Bytes: Bad Education

About one-third of data breaches occur in the educational sector, according to a study by Madison, Wisconsin-based J. Campana & Associates, yet the industry comprises less than 1 percent of total organizations. The study examined more than 1,000 data breaches occurring between January 2005 and October 2008 and logged by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. About 35 percent of breaches were attributed to lost or stolen computers, electronic storage devices, magnetic tapes, microfiche, and paper files. About 24 percent stemmed from outside hacking. Many other losses were attributed to “unauthorized access,” which could have meant hackers or insiders without proper access.