Copenhagen University Halts Administrative Systems Following Cyber Attack

black computer keyboard on brown wooden table — Jessica Lam / Unsplash

Copenhagen University has suspended the operation of key administrative systems after experiencing a new cyber attack while investigating a prior data breach. The university announced on October 26 that it had encountered a new cyberattack on that day, prompting the precautionary shutdown of certain administrative systems, including Workzone and Nimbus, to prevent further damage. Users may also experience access issues with some services on the university's website.

Earlier, on October 23, the university disclosed that approximately 525,000 individuals' personal information was at risk due to the previous breach. This data reportedly includes names, national identification numbers, contact details, and email addresses.

On October 25, the university revealed that the personal identification numbers (PINs) of about 20,000 affected students and staff were also compromised. The institution has since initiated measures to change related passwords.

The university clarified that the attack on October 26 is a distinct incident from the earlier breach, but the connection between the two attacks, the extent of additional data exposure, and the identity of the attackers remain unverified. This incident highlights potential vulnerabilities not only in the university's data management system but also in its administrative and physical access control systems.