Bill would inform victims of hackers

By Brad Hem

The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 02-10-2006

A House Republican and a Senate Democrat aim to require companies or groups whose computer databases are breached by hackers to inform the people whose personal information has been compromised.

Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, and Rep. Max Black, R-Boise, planned to introduce the bill in the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee on Thursday.

An Idaho State University alumni database was compromised last year when an automated hacking program, possibly originating in Romania, was discovered to have accessed personal records of all students, faculty and staff for the past decade.

Requiring Idaho businesses and organizations to inform victims of security breaches will help limit potential damage from such crimes, according to the bipartisan plan.