QUT confirms personal data of thousands of staff compromised in cyber attack

QUT confirms personal data of thousands of staff compromised in cyber attack

Thousands of staff and 67 students at the Queensland University of Technology had their personal data compromised in a cyber attack last month. About 2,500 current staff

Thousands of staff and 67 students at the Queensland University of Technology had their personal data compromised in a cyber attack last month. About 2,500 current staff

and a number of former staff at the state's second-largest university have had personal data stolen, which could be used in identity theft. As for students, 17 current and

and a number of former staff at the state's second-largest university have had personal data stolen, which could be used in identity theft. As for students, 17 current and

50 former students have been affected. In an email to students on Friday, Vice Chancellor Margaret Sheil said the data that may have been compromised was stored files and

50 former students have been affected. In an email to students on Friday, Vice Chancellor Margaret Sheil said the data that may have been compromised was stored files and

included some personal information for students that "could assist in identity theft". "We have identified 17 current students and a small number of former students that may

included some personal information for students that "could assist in identity theft". "We have identified 17 current students and a small number of former students that may

have been impacted," the email said. The cyber attack on December 22 caused campus printers to spit out ransomware notes in bulk, and led the university to shut down a

have been impacted," the email said. The cyber attack on December 22 caused campus printers to spit out ransomware notes in bulk, and led the university to shut down a

number of its IT systems as a precaution. The note purported to be from Royal ransomware, which Professor Sheil said ran a well known ransomware scheme. The note said

number of its IT systems as a precaution. The note purported to be from Royal ransomware, which Professor Sheil said ran a well known ransomware scheme. The note said

"your critical data was not only encrypted but also copied", warning it could be published online unless a "modest royalty" was paid. In Friday's email to students,

"your critical data was not only encrypted but also copied", warning it could be published online unless a "modest royalty" was paid. In Friday's email to students,

Professor Sheil said the university was unaware of any of the compromised data being exploited or accessed by criminals at this stage. "We are obviously concerned that the

Professor Sheil said the university was unaware of any of the compromised data being exploited or accessed by criminals at this stage. "We are obviously concerned that the

attack accessed stored document files and QUT is taking all necessary actions to support those affected to prevent further illegal activity," the email said.

attack accessed stored document files and QUT is taking all necessary actions to support those affected to prevent further illegal activity," the email said.