IDENTITY THEFT OU suspends technology supervisor

The man said that he was not in charge of the hacked machines.
ATHENS, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio University information technology supervisor expressed shock Wednesday over his suspension related to recent electronic breaches in which hackers may have stolen 173,000 Social Security numbers from school computers.
Thomas Reid, the director of communications network services, said none of the five computer servers broken into since March 2005 were under his management.
The university suspended Reid and Todd Acheson, manager of Internet and systems, Tuesday pending a disciplinary investigation. The suspensions were recommended in an independent audit as part of a reorganization of the school's computer security.
Reid said he was recently interviewed by consultants performing the audit and was given no indication he would be suspended.
"It was the furthest thing from my mind," he said.
Increasing security
The university announced April 21 it had discovered a computer breach at its training center for fledgling businesses. Since then, electronic break-ins also were reported at the school's alumni office, health center and the department that handles records for businesses the university hires.
Citing results from the audit Tuesday, the school said university President Roderick McDavis will ask trustees for up to $2 million to improve computer security. Three other computer administrators placed on leave in May have been reinstated.
Students, alumni and employees have been told to run credit checks and place fraud watches on their credit card and bank accounts. About two dozen people with ties to the university have told the school they were victimized by identity theft in the last year.