Princeton targeted in ransomware attack
It is unclear if any student, faculty, or staff information was impacted
Princeton is the latest of 27,000 victims targeted in a ransomware attack on MongoDB, one of the largest database providers.
Usually, in ransomware attacks, the victims (organizations that had their data kidnapped) must pay a ransom to get their data back. Ransomware is often capable of encrypting, corrupting, or deleting target files so they are no longer accessible.
A university spokesperson said Princeton has no comment about the attack. It is thus unclear whether the attack targeted unencrypted personal information or some other type of database. It is also unclear whether any student, faculty, or staff information was impacted.
If you’re a student or faculty concerned about the situation, a quick email to the Office of Information Technology could provide some help.
In an earlier wave of the attacks, the Princeton Medical Center was also targeted. A Princeton physician alerted 4,200 patients last October that their electronically protected health information may have been breached.
Last June, the University of Calgary paid $16,000 in ransom to decrypt inaccessible emails.