School sekurity breach

[Cream Soda]

Got this in the mail

Spoiler: show

Now I don't go to this school, never have been, didn't apply etc. but I remember this being mentioned in my school's news feed, so I'm unsure if this is relevant to me or not and what actions to take


Edit: that being said, I have nothing to my name, no money, no assets, etc.

[Melena]

Worst case scenario is you can contact the credit agencies to verify. Is it possible that school is affiliated with the school you are going to now?

[Correction]

If they have your address then whoever broke into their systems also has your name/address.

You're probably fine unless you gave the school (or any school that shares an applicant pool like a lot of state unis do) an application that includes your SSN/DOB.

[Cream Soda]

Worst case scenario is you can contact the credit agencies to verify. Is it possible that school is affiliated with the school you are going to now?

Not to my knowledge, but at the same time, i heard about it first from my school before getting this in the mail. Was in the school news feed that northwest college was breached, but I didn't look any further into it and it's no longer in the announcements. Just tried to go back and find it

[BaneTheBrawler]

uh oh, man. they know your ethnicity. you're fucked now.

[Anoat]

I got the same letter. As the letter states, its not only students of that school, but ANY student from a Florida college or university that was eligible for the Bright Futures Scholarship in the 05-06 and 06-07 years. I contacted the credit agencies as suggested and they were already aware of the situation, nothing crazy on my account. But still, better to be safe than sorry.

[Cream Soda]

Doesn't getting a credit report ding my already bad credit (well, no credit if medical bills don't count. Bad credit if they do; unpaid medical bills from like 10 years ago, etc.)

[Kalmado]

Doesn't getting a credit report ding my already bad credit (well, no credit if medical bills don't count. Bad credit if they do; unpaid medical bills from like 10 years ago, etc.)

Slightly dings it but nothing serious. That only goes for those applying to tons of different credit cards in a short period of time. Medical bills will be on your credit report, but the seriousness depends on the amount owed, from when, and the creditor and their in house rules.

[Julian]

I got the same letter. As the letter states, its not only students of that school, but ANY student from a Florida college or university that was eligible for the Bright Futures Scholarship in the 05-06 and 06-07 years. I contacted the credit agencies as suggested and they were already aware of the situation, nothing crazy on my account. But still, better to be safe than sorry.

wait what? fuck.. I started uni 08-09, am I ok?

[Churchill]

see if shitting on the floor fixes it

[Correction]

Slightly dings it but nothing serious.

What? No. Getting your own score is almost always soft credit pull and doesn't ding you in the slightest.

[Kalmado]

What? No. Getting your own score is almost always soft credit pull and doesn't ding you in the slightest.

If it's soft, then you are correct. Many people do not understand the difference. What you are referencing would just be strictly the score. If it was a report, as in what CS referenced, it would give itemized detail which will effect score. It's like a 3 point hit so it's nothing dire anyways.

[Plow]

You're probably fine unless you gave the school (or any school that shares an applicant pool like a lot of state unis do) an application that includes your SSN/DOB.

This is what you need to be concerned about.

To put it simply: If this group has your name/address to send you said letter, then your name/address were obtained in the breakin as well.

If said group ALSO has your SSN and other information likely on your application to St. Pete, then they got that too; someone could potentially get stuff in your name and fuck your credit. (and yes, even if it's already really bad, they can make it worse)


My advice would be to call the school that sent you the letter and try to get specifics on exactly what information they have about you. If they have stuff that matters, then you need to get proactive in your credit protection.

[RKenshin]

If it's soft, then you are correct. Many people do not understand the difference. What you are referencing would just be strictly the score. If it was a report, as in what CS referenced, it would give itemized detail which will effect score. It's like a 3 point hit so it's nothing dire anyways.

Nah, you can get a fully detailed credit report/score and it doesn't effect your score at all. It's always considered soft, so long as it's personally initiated by you and not someone else.

It only effects your score when another party/agency involved in credit/banking/debt/etc transactions checks your report/score, such as for a credit card, a car financing company, or a mortgage bank, or sometimes even a rental/leasing agreement, etc. This dings your score by a small amount for a small time, because it makes it look like you're planning to take on a new line of credit/a given amount of debt, or a certain amount of financial hardship in the very near future.

[Ratatapa]

Since when school in the USA is free?