Penn State University says it is working to notify some 30,000 individuals whose Social Security numbers may have been compromised by a computer breach before Christmas.

In a statement, the university said it began on Dec. 23 sending out letters notifying those potentially affected by the malware infections, which are believed responsible for the breaches.

The areas and extent of the records involved in the malicious software attack included Eberly College of Science, 7,758 records; the College of Health and Human Development, 6,827 records; and one of Penn State's campuses outside of University Park, approximately 15,000 records, the university's statement said

The university, in the midst of an investigation, did not identify the branch campus.

School officials notified the campus two days before Christmas that it had no evidence that anyone's information had been accessed. But it its statement, it said the mailings that are under way, including a brochure with advice about identity theft, was an attempt to prepare individuals in case an attempt is made.

"Even when theft is only a remote possibility, we alert anyone who may have been affected, and arm them with information and steps to take to mitigate their risk," the statement quoted Sarah Morrow, chief privacy officer for Penn State.

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