Thousands of people have had their private data publically exposed , after hackers reportedly got into a server at UNC ’s Lineberger Cancer Center . The Chapel Hill News reports that the victims found out shortly after Christmas , when center director Dr. Shelley Earp sent out letters of apology ; center employees found out about the breach last spring . The incident affected about 3,500 individuals , exposing information such as their Social Security and passport numbers . In the letter , Earp told the victims that authorities have no way to know whether the data will be misused . The situation reportedly did n’t involve any patient information , although it did involve a small number of people who were subjects in research projects . ;