Laptop containing VT personal information stolen

New identity theft fears for an unknown number of Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff.

The school says a laptop computer that belongs to an outside company, has been stolen.  Virginia Tech Director of News & Information Mark Owczarski tells us that laptop contains personal information belonging to people who were at Virginia Tech in 2000.  Owczarski said he did not know whether the affected people were employees or students.

The laptop belongs to a company called SunGard Higher Education.  According to a SunGard news release, the company says the laptop was stolen from an employee on March 13, 2008.

“While we are not aware of any personally identifiable information having been misused, we are treating this incident as a serious matter,“ said Brian Madocks, chief executive officer of SunGard Higher Education in the news release.

Madocks says it notified its customers on April 9th, 2008 about the laptop theft.

SunGard says it will offer free credit monitoring to affected people.  The company also set-up an information center to answer calls, as well as a website with information about the incident.

Click here for a link to the SunGard website about the laptop theft incident

“As a result of this incident, we are reviewing our security policies and procedures and will continue to dedicate resources to the resolution of this incident as we work to regain the confidence of our customers,” stated Madocks in the news release.