Local

Data breach may put Daytona State College students' personal info at risk

Daytona State College students who applied for financial aid might find themselves in a financial mess.

The school said a data breach involving financial aid forms means thieves could have personal information needed to steal students' identities.

It marks the second security breach involving the school.

Several students received a letter about the breach over the weekend.

It said the breach involved federal financial aid records, and students' parents may also be at risk.

Students said the school sent out this letter over the weekend saying it uncovered a data breach involving students who applied for the free application for federal student aid, or FAFSA.

The FBI and the IRS are investigating the breach, which affected current and former employees.

The college said the information at risk in the latest breach includes Social Security numbers, names, addresses, dates of birth, driver's license numbers and salary information.

Student Macey Avenancio said what makes it worse -- is that her parents' information is also at risk because they put their information on her application.

“I don’t know what to do,” she said.

The school said it's not aware of any misuse of a students' or students' parents' personal information, but that doesn't make student Daniel Birchett feel any better.

"Being at this stage of my life and trying to get everything started, it could seriously damage what I intend to do with my future,” said Birchett.

The school said it's offering free identity protection services to affected students.

The college didn't say how many students are involved in the latest breach.