University in Western Sydney experiences digital breach, Yet, no ransom demands are reported
Western Sydney University has been proactively addressing an intrusion into its IT network, which was first identified in January 2024. Approximately 7,500 individuals have been affected by this incident, and they have been notified via telephone call, email, or both.
The University swiftly took action to shut down the intrusion once it was identified. Monitoring and scanning indicate that the preventative measures taken as part of the incident response have successfully prevented any further unauthorized access.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) was enlisted to conduct an investigation into the matter, working alongside the University. The University is also collaborating with NSW Police in an ongoing investigation.
The intrusion included access to some email accounts and SharePoint files within the University's Microsoft Office 365 environment. It was also revealed that the University's Solar Car Laboratory infrastructure may have been used as part of the incident.
The University has been investigating the impact of the unauthorized access since January 2024. Fortunately, no demands have been made in exchange for maintaining privacy, and no threats have been received to disclose any of the private information accessed during the incident.
In a bid to safeguard the affected individuals' information, the University sought and was granted an injunction from the NSW Supreme Court to prevent access, use, transmission, and publication of any data related to the incident.
The University has been investing in additional remediation measures to strengthen its IT network and protect the data of its students and staff. It remains committed to transparency and open communication throughout this process, keeping the affected individuals and relevant authorities informed of any developments.
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