Identity Theft

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Identifying Electronic Confidential Data

Data that are stored or transmitted electronically are considered confidential if their unauthorized release can result in harm to the institution or to individuals. Such harm may include identity theft, legal or financial liability, institutional or personal embarrassment, as well as other consequences. It is the responsibility of all employees at Reading Area Community College, and others who are empowered to act on behalf of the College, to protect confidential data from unauthorized access and/or misuse.

The following guidelines are intended to help you identify data items that should be treated as confidential. However, the lists below are not exhaustive and there are confidential data items that fall outside of these guidelines.

Identity Theft Material

Identity theft is the fraudulent use of another's personal information for financial gain or to perpetrate other illicit activity.  Unauthorized access to materials that can be used for identity theft can expose individuals to harm and, in certain cases, expose the institution to financial liability, public relations challenges, and other types of problems.  This applies to all employees, students, alumni, donors, parents, board members, vendors, and others –– whether they are current, former, or prospective –– whose personal data is electronically stored or transmitted by the College.  In conjunction with an individual's name, data related to identity theft include:

These items can be found in documents such as tax returns, admissions applications, credit, loan and other types of applications, housing agreements, employment records, student records, financial correspondence, etc.

For more information about ID theft see http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ .

For additional questions about keeping your computer safe from attack, contact IT Services.