Harvard database breached in targeted phishing attack
A database at Harvard University containing confidential information about alumni, donors, students, and faculty was breached by an "unauthorized party" following a targeted phone-phishing scheme.
This marks the second instance this year that an Ivy League school has launched a data-breach inquiry, highlighting the increasing frequency of cyberattacks on leading U.S. universities, according to Bloomberg.
The breach took place during the week, revealing information crucial to Harvard's fundraising and alumni outreach efforts.
As stated on the university’s website, the affected information encompasses personal contact details, donation histories, and alumni interaction data.
While no suspects have been pinpointed, officials at the university claim they acted quickly to mitigate the threat.
“Harvard promptly took action to eliminate the intruder’s access to our systems and to avert any additional unauthorized entry,” commented Tim Bailey, the director of communications at Harvard University Information Technology.
“We are collaborating with external cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement to investigate this matter.”
Being the oldest and most affluent university in the United States, Harvard continues to be a key target for cybercriminals.
The institution generates significant fundraising revenue, consistently exceeding $1 billion annually.
This recent event follows a previous security concern in October when Harvard initiated an investigation into claims that its data had been compromised as part of a larger hacking endeavor associated with Oracle Corp.
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