WVBR has obtained a copy of the e-mail sent out to the members of the Cornell community whose Social Security numbers were exposed earlier this month when a University computer containing that information was stolen.

The text of this e-mail follows:


Dear Current or Former Member of the Cornell Community:

Last week, we learned that a Cornell-owned computer that was stolen earlier this month contained your name and Social Security Number. Please accept our most sincere apologies for this unfortunate event.

In order to inform you of this situation as quickly as possible, we are sending you this email in advance of a formal notification via U.S. mail.

The official letter will detail the services that Cornell is offering you, at our expense, in response to this incident. There will also be a toll-free number you can call for additional information and assistance.

In the meanwhile, we urge you to visit a web site we have created with frequently asked questions (an FAQ) about this situation and some steps you can take yourself:

http://faq-june2009.cuinfo.cornell.edu

We will be updating this web page as more information becomes available. It is, however, the official notification letter that will contain the details about activating the services Cornell is making available and whom you can contact with any questions or concerns.

This incident underscores the need for ever more vigilant security processes. Cornell University is committed to maintaining the privacy of individuals' personal information and takes many precautions to ensure its security. In response to incidents of theft like this one, and the increasing number of Internet-enabled computer attacks, the University is continually improving its systems and practices.

Once again, please accept our apologies for this incident. We deeply regret any inconvenience it may cause.

Thank you.


Polley A. McClure
Vice President for Information Technologies
Cornell University

Steven J. Schuster
Director, IT Security Office
Cornell Information Technologies

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