Queensland University of Technology shuts IT systems after being hit by ransomware attack
Campus printers were forced to print ransomware notes by mass after a cyberattack on Queensland’s second largest university.
The key points
- Ransomware has attacked the Queensland University of Technology
- As a precaution, multiple IT systems were shut down.
- Margaret Sheil, Vice-Chancellor of the University, says plans are in place to prevent such attacks
Multiple IT systems at the Queensland University of Technology have been shut down by the university as a precaution.
Professor Margaret Sheil of QUT was quoted as saying that her printer was among those who were affected by the incident this morning.
“In mine, it printed until there was no paper in my print machine,” she stated.
The ransom note claims it is from ‘Royal Ransomware’. Professor Sheil claimed that this ransomware was a well-known scheme.
Recently, the United States Health Department issued a warning about ransomware to hospitals. Attacks were first reported in America in September.
Two weeks ago, the US authorities warned that Royal ransomware is newer and that less information is available about its operators and users than other ransomware.
The ransomware note printed in black and white warns that “your critical data was not just encrypted, but also copied”. It is possible for it to be published online if a “modest royalties” are paid.
Professor Sheil claimed that multiple systems were compromised but that none of the “core student, staff, or financial systems appeared to have been involved.
Investigation underway
The university has taken down all IT systems in order to protect itself while technical staff and other specialists conduct an investigation.
Professor Sheil said, “Everything that is sensitive in terms of holding information and so forth, we have shut down.”
“Most of our systems are down because they’ve stopped access or shut them down. This includes the system that manages student enrolment data. It also contains the system that students can access to their course information and staff systems.
“There are other systems where they’re compromised – not necessarily shut down – but with a file might have been locked by the attack.”
Students and staff were notified about the incident.
QUT is also in contact with students who were offered to study at the university today. The university offers acceptance to students, but they will not be allowed to complete their documentation until the IT systems are restored.
Professor Sheil stated that “we want to reassure these hopefully very excited new students”
Professor Sheil claimed that the university had developed a plan for dealing with cyber-attacks and federal authorities had been notified.
The federal Department of Education confirmed that it was aware of the incident.
