Columbia University Probes Cyber Incident Following Tech Outages: What You Need to Know

Columbia University is currently facing a significant cybersecurity issue. Students have reported technology failures and unusual images appearing on screens throughout the campus.

Since Tuesday morning, the university’s website and various systems have experienced intermittent outages. The New York Police Department is now part of the investigation. A spokesperson confirmed that while systems on the Morningside campus were down, there was no impact on patient care at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

While there are no indications of stolen data or ransomware, sources suggest that the disruption could be serious but does not seem to involve deep access to university systems. The school has put up a banner on its website, acknowledging the widespread outages and assuring that services are being restored as quickly as possible.

Students took to social media to document the situation, sharing images of digital displays on campus that had been altered to show photos of former President Donald Trump. The campus newspaper, Columbia Spectator, noted that many students had trouble logging into essential services for emails and assignments. Multiple announcements were sent out throughout the day urging professors to adjust their class plans due to these outages.

This incident could mark the second cyberattack on a significant educational institution in New York City this year. In March, hackers had previously breached New York University (NYU), compromising the personal information of over a million students. NYU reported that sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, was exposed between October and March.

Cybersecurity threats to educational institutions are on the rise. This year alone, universities like the University of Oklahoma and Western New Mexico University also faced similar technology failures linked to cyberattacks. According to recent data from cybersecurity firms, educational institutions have seen a 25% increase in reported cyber incidents compared to last year.

As the situation unfolds at Columbia, it highlights a growing concern within the academic sector about online safety and cybersecurity measures. Keeping systems secure is crucial for protecting personal information and maintaining normal operations in these institutions.

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