ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) - A computer containing confidential information on students at Missouri Western State University has been returned to the school by the person who bought it at auction.
KQTV reports (http://bit.ly/11oDizp) the surplus computer was sold at an auction in December. The hard drive contained names and Social Security numbers of thousands of students recruited by Missouri Western between 2005 and 2009.
Officials say the buyer noticed the information and returned the computer Jan. 9, assuring them the data on the hard drive was not copied or share.
The university is now writing to about 3,000 students about the incident, even though officials don't believe the information was misused.
Missouri Western is also taking steps to make sure that hard drives in surplus computers are removed and destroyed before any future sales.