Students can use more than 600 open-access computers in labs spread around campus. There are also 80 computer kiosks, where the computers are more secure because they are encased in locked cabinets.

"A hacker has to somehow get media attached to a computer to install such software," Franson said.

Other university precautions include keeping separate databases. The most sensitive data cannot be accessed outside a virtual private network where traffic is encrypted, Franson said.

There are other potential problems, however. Students demand wireless network connections around campus, but those sessions also could be captured by anyone with a wireless system. Of course, with the mass of data that would be collected in that scenario, a hacker would need powerful equipment to extract any truly valuable information from amongst the useless chitchat and Web surfing.

"Identity theft is a growing issue," Franson said. "It's a real issue, and the sophistication of the perpetrators is growing at the same rate as the sophistication of society in general. The question is, can we keep ahead of them?"

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