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Western Sydney University staff and students caught in cyber-attack
08:48
About 7,500 staff and students have been caught up in a cyber-attack at Western Sydney University.
the university says dates as far back as May 2023
Police are investigating the breach, which the university says dates as far back as May 2023, when an unauthorised party got into the Microsoft Office system and accessed email accounts and SharePoint files.
WSU says they have not received any threats to disclose the information if they do not pay a ransom fee.
A breach was first identified in January – which WSU says it quickly shut down – but a subsequent investigation found there had been a hack eight months earlier.
Along with their Office accounts, the university said its Solar Car Laboratory infrastructure had also been used in the breach.
WSU told affected individuals about the breach on Tuesday, with about 7500 people contacted by phone and email.
Interim vice-chancellor Clare Pollock said the university was committed to working through the issues with staff and students.
“On behalf of the university, I unreservedly apologise for this incident and its impact on our community,” she said in a statement.
“It is deeply regrettable, and we are committed to transparently rectifying the matter and fulfilling our obligations.” La Trobe University students
