Audit Shows UMD Network Vulnerable
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WJZ) -- Five years, countless victims and a new audit reveals that the University of Maryland-College Park still doesn't have it right. Christie Ileto reports on how the campus network remains vulnerable to hackers.
Shereen Ibrahim is one of 300-thousand students and staff whose social security numbers were compromised in a sophisticated cyber attack in February.
"I don't feel safe," Ibrahim said. "What am I supposed to do if I have bad credit... all because I went to the University of Maryland... it doesn't make any sense."
In a revealing report, auditors uncover only 15 of the campuses more than 500 departments have a maintained firewall since February.
When asked if it surprised him, David Helkowski, former university contractor, said no.
"No, the security of complex systems is very difficult and it does take a lot of time to address," Helkowski said.
Discovering a huge cyber security hole months before, Helkowski tried to warn them.
"I offered to help them and they said no," Helkowski said.
The university said they've addressed security flaws from 2009 and continue to invest resources for encryption and monitor confidential data to minimize future breaches.
Students still want assurance.
"I feel like it's really irresponsible not to be doing all that they can to protect that," Ibrahim said.
With the every changing nature of cyber attacks, the bigger question is whether we'll ever be completely protected.
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