Cyber attack on three universities including UCLAN

Cyber attack on three universities including UCLAN

Mar, 15 2021


How we connect with each other online is under fire. Bogus individuals are getting into computer software and causing disruption. 
 
In 2019, a special report was commissioned for universities on the dangers of cyber-crime. 
 
Now 2 years later that danger has been realised further in a recent news item. 
 
In total three universities came under the spotlight, these include:-
  • The University of the Highlands in Scotland 
  • Queen’s University in Belfast 
  • University of Central Lancashire in Preston
For UCLAN it had left remote-working students unable to submit assignments causing a detriment to their academic life and their future prospects. 
 
A spokesman for UCLAN had these reassuring words to say, 
 
“The University had deployed a full incident response plan to evaluate the extent of the issue and to stabilise the situation and no data was lost. UCLAN had suspended access to a number of its systems as a precautionary measure, meaning a short period of downtime for students and staff. Our core student learning systems were largely back to full operation on Sunday evening, meaning that teaching and learning could continue on Monday”.
 
The National Cyber Security Centre has launched an investigation into the matter. It’s not sure at present if the attacks were linked to the Universities mentioned earlier.  A representative of UCLAN said the attack was ‘rectified within hours’ and Lancashire Police were informed. 
 
Further investigation will be carried out in the aftermath of the incidents. 
 
^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger