8,000 students in UK caught up in email security breach

The details of more than 8,000 students were sent out by Student Finance England as part of a mass email distribution following a blunder by staff.
Last night, the agency apologised for the error which they put down an administrative error.
It has since contacted all students involved to assure them that “no other personal” data was shared.
But privacy campaigners warned that the breach illustrated the dangers of storing personal details on electronic databases.
It comes just weeks after Scotland Yard admitted sharing the email addresses of more than 1,000 victims of crime with other victims.

The Student Loans Company – an arms length public body overseen by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – took over responsibility from local councils for delivering student grants in 2009. It distributes means-tested awards through its Student Finance England subsidiary.