Michigan University Cybersecurity Shutdown – VIDEO

The University of Michigan faced a significant cybersecurity incident that led to a two-day internet shutdown, affecting its campus IT systems used for research, fundraising, and potentially delaying financial aid reimbursements. The incident occurred right before the new academic year, causing major disruptions for the university’s approximately 50,000 students at its Ann Arbor campus. While campus computers were generally cut off from public internet access, students found workarounds using their cell phones. The university staff made progress in helping students access resources from off-campus networks, but recovery efforts are still ongoing.

The university acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the outage, especially at the start of the academic year. University President Santa Ono stated that the loss of internet access cast an “unfortunate cloud” over the start of the academic year. Students like Katherine Kiessling, a senior majoring in dance and computer engineering, faced difficulties in accessing lecture materials online, forcing her to work from her off-campus apartment.

The exact cause of the outage remains unclear, but the university’s statements suggested that malicious cyber activity was to blame. This incident comes weeks after the White House held a meeting with K-12 school administrators to discuss the need for cybersecurity measures against ransomware and other hacks. The event underscores the vulnerability of educational institutions, including universities, to cyber threats. Last year, Lincoln College in Illinois was forced to close permanently due to a cyberattack and the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the severe consequences such incidents can have.

Source: CNN

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