COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Ohio State University officials said computer hackers accessed information that puts 760,000 people's identities at risk and could cost the school $4 million.
The school Wednesday alerted students, current and former faculty, applicants and others by email that security had been breached on the server that stored their names, addresses, birth dates and Social Security numbers, the OSU newspaper, the Lantern, reported.
"We regret that this has occurred and are exercising an abundance of caution in choosing to notify those affected," Joseph A Alutto, the OSU provost, said.
The school is offering 12 months of free credit protection through Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to all whose information was jeopardized, the Lantern said.
The breach was discovered in October but was not revealed until the school could research and prepare for solutions to the problem, a spokesman said.
"The last thing we want to do is announce something and not have support systems set up. It wouldn't have been wise to put it out any sooner," spokesman, Jim Lynch, said.
The breach will cost the university $4 million in expenses pertaining to notification of the breach, credit security, investigative consulting and a calling center for those affected, the Lantern reported.
