Internet List Contained Over 100 Miami-Dade Students' Dates of Birth, Social Security Numbers

NBC 6 alerted the Miami-Dade County Public Schools about the breach, and the website with the list was taken down

The most sensitive information of over a hundred Miami-Dade public school students – including their dates of birth and Social Security numbers – was found floating on the Internet for anyone to find.

The breach was discovered Thursday by NBC 6, which alerted the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Many parents on the list – which could be seen on a website that has since been taken down – say they believe the information was obtained when they applied for specialized education such as magnet programs.

"It's a long list, and it's like almost seven pages of students from different places, different people," said Tanya Paddyfoot, whose daughter is on the list.

In a statement released to NBC 6, the Miami-Dade school district says they “have learned that a well-intentioned employee, who was trying to make it easier for students to apply for available spots in magnet programs, developed an online program to facilitate the application process. He did not use adequate security for the program, which may have left some student information accessible by outside sources. We will be working to assist parents and students who were affected by this action."

That employee works out of Palm Springs Middle School in Hialeah and may have been processing the applications through its student portal.

Paddyfoot said she was able to find her daughter’s personal information through a simple Google search.

"It's scary because you have your children and that's her information, her birthday, her Social Security number's on there," she says.

Soon after NBC 6 contacted the Miami-Dade School Board, the website with all of the information was taken down. The school district is not yet saying if any actions will be taken against the school employee who developed the online program.

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