Cyber-Attack Exposes Student and Alumni Data
Hackers affiliated with a prominent cyber-criminal group have gained access to a "significant amount" of personal data belonging to students and alumni of the University of Nottingham. The university reported that the compromised information includes financial details stored within its record system.
In a communication sent to students and reviewed by the BBC, Jason Carter, the university's chief governance and risk officer, indicated that the perpetrators, who have "previously targeted a number of other organisations," are "likely" responsible for this breach.
The university issued a statement apologizing to those affected for "any anxiety" the incident may have caused.
The unauthorized activity was detected on the university's Campus Solutions system on Tuesday. Since then, all impacted students and alumni have been notified, according to a university spokesperson.
Investigation and Response Efforts
The university stated,
"We are working to understand the data that has been accessed and have contacted those students and alumni affected directly."
They further confirmed collaboration with Action Fraud, the Information Commissioner's Office, and other regulatory bodies to address the situation.
Updates will continue to be provided to those directly impacted as the investigation progresses.
In the email to affected individuals, Carter explained that upon detecting the attack, the university "immediately took the affected systems offline to contain the incident and launched a comprehensive investigation."
While the investigation is ongoing, Carter stated he is operating under the precautionary assumption that four categories of information were accessed, though he did not specify these categories in the communication.
He added,
"We are working to verify the exact scope of the data accessed and will provide further updates as our investigation confirms these details."
Context of Financial Challenges and Staff Redundancies
This cyber-attack occurs amid significant financial challenges faced by the university. Recently, the institution informed 2,700 staff members—over one-third of its workforce—that they are at risk of redundancy due to "changing sector demands."
The university confirmed plans to reduce 609 of its 7,363 full-time equivalent roles over the next three years.
In response to these proposed cuts, staff have initiated a boycott of marking and assessments.
The University and College Union (UCU) warned that this action would "effectively block the university from handing out graduation certificates."
Student Concerns Amid Marking Boycott
Among those affected by the marking boycott is Abigail Maguire, who shared her concerns with the BBC regarding plans to use earlier grades to determine final degree classifications. She fears this approach will not accurately reflect her final-year performance, where she has been averaging first-class scores.
Maguire recounted personal challenges she faced, including the death of her brother prior to her enrollment, which had a lasting impact on her academic performance.
She said,
"I was struggling with certain traumatic findings from his death, [and] I was also surpassing him in age at that time, which was also really difficult."
She also dealt with physical health problems that severely affected her course and grades. She appealed to the university, explaining her situation, but was not granted an opportunity to retake exams when she was in a better state of mind.
Maguire stated,
"They didn't give me a choice, they didn't give me an opportunity to take the exams when I was in a better state of mind... I passed, but just about, and they said 'just do better in your third year'.
She worked hard in her third year to average a first-class grade, which compensated for her earlier marks. However, she fears that the current marking boycott could invalidate her efforts.
Maguire added,
"I worked really hard in my third year, I managed to average for a first, so that makes up for the lost marks in my second year, and now all of that could just be overridden, and just worthless."
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