Hackers May Have Obtained Data on 163,000 at Butler U.

Butler University has joined a growing list of higher-education institutions hit by data thieves.

Butler’s president, James M. Danko, said in a letter to those who may have been affected that personal information on as many as 163,000 students, alumni, employees, and even potential applicants might have been obtained by hackers, according to The Indianapolis Star. The data breach was discovered in late May, when a flash drive containing information about some Butler employees turned up in California.

A subsequent investigation revealed that a hacker or hackers had access to the university’s network from November 2013 to last month. Names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and bank-account details were all exposed. The university, which says it has since secured its network, is offering those affected a year’s access to an identity-protection service.