This page lists known hacking attacks on universities and colleges from 2022 and 2021. Universities generally communicate very openly when they have been hit by a cyberattack, partly because a large number of students are usually affected. Therefore, the number of unreported cases is likely to be low, at least for large cyber attacks.
Bert Kondruss
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Bert Kondruss
Founder and managing director of KonBriefing Research

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Statistics: Cyber attacks on colleges and universities 2023

Flag CanadaMay 17, 2023
Cyber attack on a medical university in Canada
Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM University) - Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
https://mailchi.mp/c78508071166/26waoscx...
Flag USAApril 2023
Unauthorized access at a university in Kansas
Wichita State University - Wichita, Kansas, USA (Sedgwick County)
https://news.wichita.edu/2023/05/01/wich...
Flag CyprusApril 2023 ?
Cyber attack on a university in Cyprus
Open University of Cyprus / Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου - Nicosia / Λευκωσία, Cyprus
https://www.ouc.ac.cy/index.php/en/news-...
Flag IsraelApril 4, 2023
DDoS attack on the website of a university in Jerusalem, Israel
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) / הַאוּנִיבֶרְסִיטָה הַעִבְרִית בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם - Jerusalem / ירושלים, Israel
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/arti...
Flag IsraelApril 4, 2023
DDoS attack on the website of a university in Beersheba, Israel
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) / אוניברסיטת בן-גוריון בנגב - Be’er Scheva / בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע, Israel
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/arti...
Flag Canada2023
Unauthorized access to email addresses at a student association in Canada
Alma Mater Society (AMS) of Queen's University - Kingston, Ontario, Canada
https://globalnews.ca/news/9583948/queen...
Flag BelgiumMarch 11, 2023
Cyber attack on a university hospital in Belgium
Centre hospitalier universitaire Saint-Pierre (CHU Saint-Pierre) / UMC Sint-Pieter - Brussels, Belgium
Flag SpainMarch 5, 2023
Cyber attack on a university hospital in Spain
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona - Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Exceptional public relations: On Facebook, the hospital shows a video with impressions of the current situation.
https://govern.cat/salapremsa/notes-prem...
https://www.facebook.com/HospitalClinicD...
⭐⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: excellent immediate communication by the affected organization.
Perpetrators: RansomHouse
Hospital Clínic i Provincial de Barcelona
Flag USAMarch 3, 2023
Cyber attack on a college in Oregon
Lewis & Clark - Portland, Oregon, USA (Multnomah County)
https://www.lclark.edu/news/march-2023/
Flag IsraelFebruary 12, 2023
Cyber attack on a university in Israel
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology / הַטֶּכְנִיּוֹן – מָכוֹן טֶכְנוֹלוֹגִי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל - Haifa / חֵיפָה, Israel
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/arti...
Flag SwitzerlandFebruary 2023
Cyber attack on the website of a research project of a Swiss university of applied sciences
Ein Bild verletzt mehr als 1000 Worte / FH Graubünden - Chur, Canton of the Grisons, Switzerland
https://www.fhgr.ch/news/newsdetail/cybe...
Flag FranceFebruary 8, 2023
Cyber attack on a university hospital on the French island of Reunion
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de La Réunion (CHU de La Réunion) - Saint-Denis, Réunion, France
https://www.lequotidien.re/actualites/sa...
Flag GermanyFebruary 2023
Data of members of a university in Germany offered on the Darknet
Heinrich-Heine-Universität (HHU) - Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
https://www.hhu.de/die-hhu/presse-und-ma...
Flag GermanyFebruary 2023
Attempted cyber attack on a university in Germany
TU Ilmenau - Ilmenau, Thuringia, Germany (Ilm-Kreis)
https://www.insuedthueringen.de/inhalt.t...
Flag AustriaFebruary 3, 2023
Cyber attack on a university in Austria
Universität Graz - Graz, Styria, Austria
https://news.uni-graz.at/de/detail/artic...
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good immediate communication by the affected organization.
Flag GermanyFebruary 2023 ?
Cyber attack on a private university of applied sciences in Germany
Europäische Fachhochschule - Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (Rhein-Erft-Kreis)
https://www.eufh.de/hochschule/pressemit...
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good immediate communication by the affected organization.
Flag GermanyJanuary 31, 2023
Cyber attack on a university of applied sciences in Germany
Hochschule Harz - Wernigerode, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany (Landkreis Harz)
https://www.n-tv.de/regionales/sachsen-a...
The affected organization informed the public about the incident.
Flag GermanyJanuary 31, 2023
Cyber attack on a university of applied sciences in Germany
Hochschule Ruhr West (HRW) - Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
https://www.hochschule-ruhr-west.de/hrwo...
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good immediate communication by the affected organization.
Flag CanadaJanuary 9, 2023
Cyber attack on a college in British Columbia
Okanagan College - Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
https://www.okanagan.bc.ca/news/update-o...
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good immediate communication by the affected organization.
Flag GermanyJanuary 3, 2023
Cyber attack on a university of applied sciences in Germany
Fachhochschule Westküste - Heide (Holstein), Germany (Kreis Dithmarschen)
https://www.fh-westkueste.de/home/
The affected organization informed the public about the incident.

Statistics: Cyber attacks on colleges and universities 2022

Flag GermanyDecember 29, 2022
Cyber attack on a university of applied sciences in Germany
Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg (HAW Hamburg) - Hamburg, Germany
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good immediate communication by the affected organization.
Flag NetherlandsDecember 8, 2022
Ransomware at a temporary employment company of a university in the Netherlands
Universiteit Leiden / JobMotion B.V. - Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/jobmot...
https://www.medewerkers.universiteitleid...
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good immediate communication by the affected organization.
Flag GermanyNovember 12, 2022
Unauthorized access at a university in Germany
Technische Hochschule Ulm (THU) - Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
https://studium.hs-ulm.de/de/Seiten/news...
The affected organization informed the public about the incident.
Flag USANovember 2022
Cyber attack on a college in Ohio
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College - Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (Hamilton County)
https://www.cincinnatistate.edu/restorat...
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good updated information on the incident by the affected organization.
Flag GermanyOctober 29, 2022
Cyberattack on a university in Germany
Hochschule Heilbronn - Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
https://www.hs-heilbronn.de/de/it-servic...
https://www.hs-heilbronn.de/de/cyberangr...
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good immediate communication by the affected organization.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: excellent updated information on the incident by the affected organization.
Flag ColombiaOctober 2022
Cyberattack on a university in Colombia
Universidad Piloto de Colombia - Bogota, Colombia
https://www.facebook.com/UniPilotoOficia...
Flag GermanyOctober 20, 2022
Cyber attack on a university of applied sciences in Germany
Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig (HTWK) - Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
https://www.htwk-leipzig.de/no_cache/hoc...
⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: very good immediate communication by the affected organization.
Flag USASeptember 30, 2022
Cyber attack at a private university in Mississippi
William Carey University - Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA (Forrest County)
https://www.wdam.com/2022/10/01/william-...
Flag USASeptember 27, 2022
Unauthorized access at a college in Michigan
Hope College - Holland, Michigan, USA (Ottawa County, Allegan County)
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/Adult_re...
Flag NetherlandsSeptember 18, 2022
Students of a university in the Netherlands affected by a hack
Hogeschool Utrecht - Utrecht, Netherlands
Flag UKSeptember 2022
Cyber attack on a university in the United Kingdom
SOAS University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) - London, United Kingdom
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-glou...
Flag USAAugust 27, 2022
Unauthorized access at a college in New York
Paul Smith's College - Brighton, New York, USA (Franklin County)
https://apps.web.maine.gov/online/aeview...
Flag DenmarkAugust 2022
Unauthorized access at a university in Denmark
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) - Lyngby, Denmark
Flag GermanyJuly 23, 2022
Cyber attack on a university in Germany
Bergische Universität Wuppertal - Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
https://www.uni-wuppertal.de/de/news/det...
Flag GermanyJune 21, 2022
Cyber attack on a university of applied sciences in Germany
FH Münster - Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ KonBriefing thinks: outstanding sustainable communication and retrospection by the affected organization.
Flag GermanyJune 6, 2022
Cyberattack on a pedagogical university in Germany
Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg - Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
https://www.badische-zeitung.de/paedagog...
Flag AustriaMay 30, 2022
Learning platform for distance learning in Austria affected by cyber attack
AMC Wirtschaftsakademie GmbH - Vienna, Austria
The platform is affected by a cyberattack on a data center in Germany.
https://mba-studium.at/lernplattform-war...
Flag IrelandMay 2022
Potenital cyberattack on a university in Ireland
National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway) - Galway, Ireland
The National University of Ireland Galway was already the target of a serious attack in September 2021.
https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2022/05...
Flag GermanyApril 28, 2022
Cyber attack at a university of applied sciences in Berlin
Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin - Berlin, Germany
https://www.f3.htw-berlin.de/it-sicherhe...
Flag GermanyApril 19, 2022
Unauthorized access to data of a university library in Germany
Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig - Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
Affected are about 70,000 records with personal data.
https://www.ub.uni-leipzig.de/aktuelles/...
Flag AustriaMarch 28, 2022
Hacker attack on e-mail accounts of the University of Salzburg, Austria
Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg (PLUS) - Salzburg, Austria
The university is named after Archbishop Paris Graf von Lodron (Paride Lodron), who founded it in 1622.
(German)
https://kurier.at/chronik/oesterreich/ha...
Flag GermanyMarch 26, 2022
Cyber attack on a university of applied sciences in Germany
Technische Hochschule Aschaffenburg - Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany
The university offers degree programs in the fields of science, technology, business, law and health.
(German)
https://www.th-ab.de/hochschule/aktuelle...
Flag BrazilMarch 16, 2022
Church university in Brazil affected by cyber attack
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR) - Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
As a result of the cyberattack on Grupo Marista.
https://www.cisoadvisor.com.br/grupo-mar...
Flag FinlandFebruary 4, 2022
Cyberattack on a university of applied sciences in Finland
Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu (Savonia AMK) - Kuopio, Finland
https://www.savonia.fi/uutiset/savoniaan...
Flag GermanyJanuary 27, 2022
More DDoS attacks on a University of Applied Sciences in Germany
FH Münster - Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
https://twitter.com/fh_muenster/status/1...
Flag GermanyJanuary 2022
DDoS attacks on a University of Applied Sciences in Germany
FH Münster - Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
https://www.fh-muenster.de/hochschule/ak...
Flag NetherlandsJanuary 12, 2022
DDoS attack on a university magazine in the Netherlands
observant - Maastricht, Netherlands
https://www.observantonline.nl/Home/Arti...

Statistics: Cyber attacks on colleges and universities 2021

Flag USADecember 2021
Cyberattack on a college in Illinois
Lincoln College - Lincoln, Illinois, USA
The cyberattack contributed to the college's May 2022 closure.
https://lincolncollege.edu/
Flag USAOctober 2, 2021
Ransomware attack on a university in Maryland, USA
Washington Adventist University (WAU) - Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
https://www.wau.edu/wau-ransomware-attac...
Flag South Africa2021
The University of Mpumalanga in South Africa averts a cyber scam
University of Mpumalanga (UMP) - Mbombela, South Africa
As a result of the successful defense, the university lost only 3000 Rand (200 US Dollars) instead of potentially 100 million Rand (6.7 millon US Dollars)
https://www.itweb.co.za/content/Kjlyrvw1...
Flag USASeptember 3, 2021
Ransomware at a private university in Washington, D.C.
Howard University - Washington, D.C., USA
Affected is the Howard University.
https://newsroom.howard.edu/newsroom/art...
Flag USASeptember 1, 2021
Hacker attack on the University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder - Boulder, Colorado, USA (Boulder County)
The attack on vulnerability in an Atlassian software leaked personal data of 30,000 former employees and students.
https://www.colorado.edu/today/2021/10/2...
Flag UKJuly 2021
Targeted attack on experts with a focus on the Middle East
London, United Kingdom
The security service provider Proofpoint has analyzed a targeted attack on experts, professors and journalists with a focus on the Middle East. Access data to various online services was to be tapped via the compromised website of a well-known institute of the University of London. The attack is attributed to Iran.
https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threa...
Flag UKMay 2021
Cyber attack on a university in Glasgow
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) - Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
https://www.gcu.ac.uk/theuniversity/univ...
Flag USAApril 2021
Data theft at the University of California
University of California - California, USA
Through a vulnerability in file transfer software.
https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu...
Flag USAFebruary 28, 2021
Cyber attack on the University of Millersville, Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Penn. - Millersville, Pennsylvania, USA
http://thesnapper.millersville.edu/index...
Flag USAFebruary 2021
Data theft and extortion at US university
University of Colorado - Colorado, USA
Through a vulnerability in file transfer software.
https://www.cu.edu/accellion-cyberattack

Statistics: Cyber attacks on colleges and universities 2020

Statistics: Cyber attacks on colleges and universities 2019

Flag NetherlandsDecember 23, 2019
Cyber attack on a university in the Netherlands
Universiteit Maastricht (UM) - Maastricht, Netherlands
https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nl/u...

About KonBriefing.com

KonBriefing.com is an independent researcher and analyst in the field of IT security, information security, risk management and compliance. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in Germany.