Home / Technology / Columbia University Reels from Massive Cyberattack, Exposing Sensitive Data of Thousands
Columbia University Reels from Massive Cyberattack, Exposing Sensitive Data of Thousands
6 Sep
Summary
- Columbia University confirms major data breach, compromising personal, financial, and health data
- Breach affected nearly 869,000 individuals, including students, employees, and applicants
- Stolen data includes admissions, enrollment, financial aid, and employee records
In a concerning development, Columbia University has confirmed a significant data breach that has compromised the personal, financial, and health-related information of thousands of individuals. The incident, which was discovered in June, involved an unauthorized party accessing the university's systems and stealing sensitive data.
According to the breach notification, nearly 869,000 people, including current and former students, employees, and applicants, have been affected by the incident. The stolen information includes admissions, enrollment, and financial aid records, as well as certain employee data. While the university has stated that patient records from the Columbia University Irving Medical Center were not impacted, the breadth of the stolen data poses serious risks of identity theft and fraud.
In response to the breach, Columbia has reported the incident to law enforcement and is working with cybersecurity experts to strengthen its systems and implement new safeguards. The university has also begun notifying affected individuals and is offering two years of complimentary credit monitoring, fraud consultation, and identity theft restoration services.
As the investigation into the incident continues, the university has emphasized that there is currently no evidence of the stolen data being misused. However, experts warn that criminals often wait months before exploiting such breaches, underscoring the importance for those affected to remain vigilant in monitoring their personal and financial information.
