Harvard University has confirmed that its database was accessed by ‘unauthorised party’. Alumni, donors and some students’ database was hacked after a phone phishing attack. Notably, this is the second time the university has confirmed a breach, and also the fourth Ivy League this year.
The richest university of USA has confirmed that some of details hacked include personal information, donation details and other data pertaining to fundraising and alumni engagement. Though the perpetrator is not known, measures have been taken to prevent further access.
Tim Bailey, Director, Communications at Harvard University has assured that the varsity “acted immediately to remove the attacker’s access”. He further added that the university is “working with third party cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to investigate this incident.”
This is the second such incident for the university. Harvard had earlier reported investigating a breach in October. The attack was said to be linked to campaign targeting Oracle corp and customers.
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Cyberattacks continue on Ivy League Universities
Ivy League Universities have had a rough year. This is the fourth such attack on the top US Universities. Almost all of the cyberattacks (except Columbia) have targeted donor and alumni information.
Earlier on November 15, Princeton University had confirmed data breach of its alumni and donor as well as students. Prior to that, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) also confirmed a cyberattack. On October 31, the varsity acknowledged that “some information related to Penn’s development and alumni activities” were compromised.
Columbia University, which has been in news from the beginning of Trump’s term, in June started investigations into a cyberattack. Reportedly, the varsity said that personal information of over 870,000 students and applicants were compromised.