A cyberattack incident involving Howard University underscores the severity of the cybersecurity threats faced by universities on a regular basis. Howard University fell victim to a ransomware attack that severely disrupted its daily operations. Hackers breached the university’s systems and encrypted critical data, making it inaccessible without a decryption key.

• Cyber Attack Type: Ransomware
• Affected Institution: Howard University
• Outcomes:
  • Critical data was encrypted, halting several university operations
  • Classes, networks, and administrative functions were disrupted for two weeks
  • The university paid an undisclosed amount in ransom to regain access to its data

The attack was discovered when university staff noticed unusual activity on their network. The ransomware attack halted several campus operations, forcing the university to suspend classes, wireless network operations, and administrative functions temporarily. The university worked with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement for two weeks to address the breach.

Despite initial efforts to resolve the issue without paying the ransom, Howard University ultimately paid an undisclosed amount to regain access to its data. Following the incident, the university increased its defenses by hiring additional IT staff, enforcing complex passwords, upgrading cloud security, deploying enhanced network hardware, and installing a new wireless network. The incident highlights the significant impact that cyberattacks can have on educational institutions, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

How to Avoid Falling Victim to Ransomware Attacks:

• Comply with UC cybersecurity standards, starting with completing the UC Cyber Security Awareness Fundamentals training at ucrlearning.ucr.edu
• Use strong and unique passwords with multi-factor authentication
• Regularly update operating systems, applications, and software to close security gaps exploited by attackers, and consider enabling auto-updates for continuous protection
• Create a robust ransomware response strategy with a plan to regain operational status as rapidly as possible
• Invest in a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution and regularly back up critical data

UCR Information Technology Solutions provides campus units with best-in-class cybersecurity measures. Schedule a consultation with ITS today at sds@ucr.edu to learn how you can protect your organization from cyberattacks.