LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Metro offers no reassurance in ID theft

   As a student, on Feb.7, I received an e-mail from Metro’s IT Department entitled “Secure Your Portable Computer.” It says in part “… never leave a laptop unattended, not even for a minute … when not in use, they should be locked up out of sight … should require some kind of boot-up password … also should require a logon username/password or biometric authentication before … data can be accessed. Ask yourself what the consequences would be if your computer were stolen or data copied …”
   At President Stephen Jordan’s March 9, “open meeting,” he said Daniel Parks, the employee who had possession of a laptop with 93,000 students’ personal information on it when it was stolen from his home, has breached no Metro policies, has broken no laws, and is not considered a suspect in the crime by the Denver police.
   As a Metro student, I want to feel confident that every single employee—from President Jordan on down—remembers that Metro is a public institution where students pay tuition/fees and where their tax dollars help support Metro. I want to feel confident that students’ personal information is respected. How can I have confidence at this point?
   It’s interesting Mr. Jordan “spoke out” in the March 10, 2006 issue of the Rocky Mountain News, not on the identity theft, but on “Metro needs beefed-up state support.” Although I would like to see Metro receive additional funds, is this the time to request them? In the March 9 issue of The Metropolitan, Metro’s spokesperson Cathy Lucas is quoted, saying “This is a crisis” in reference to the identity theft. I agree with Ms. Lucas.  At a time of crisis, it would seem imperative that all hands be on deck to deal with the crisis. Focus should be on the fact that the personal.
   Maybe this was a crime of opportunity where the thief was only interested in getting a laptop, any laptop. But, then again, maybe not. Or, maybe once he/she realized what was on the laptop, it was sold, resold for its contents. In any case, students are at risk right now. 
   However, If you are a student at Metro, please consider checking www.ago.state.co.us/idtheft/securityfreeze.cfm for information from the Colorado Attorney General on the New Colorado Security Freeze Option, effective July 1.
   With this law, you can stop the release of your credit report, which is typically how a thief initiates a credit card or loan in your name.


Erika H. Phebus

 

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