UNM Security Breach

July 15, 2004

UNM's Linux system cracked By Matthew Chavez

CIRT security administrator Jeff Gassaway said Wednesday that an unknown and unauthorized party outside of UNM accessed a list of the University's Linux NetIDs and encrypted passwords.

He said as many as 500 to 1,500 students use Linux, a flexible computer operating system, and urged all students to change their passwords.

"We haven't seen people getting cracked passwords, but we know this is a possibility and probably a likelihood," he said. "So, the guaranteed piece of insurance is if you change your password regularly, you don't have this problem."

Gassaway said unauthorized access occurs at most once each semester. He said this incident is the first of its kind this summer.

As good a time as any to change your password. mjh
UNM entry by mjh at 09:57 AM | email this