UK universities put on ransomware alert

The UK¡¯s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued an alert to universities after recording a ¡°significant increase¡± in ransomware attacks in recent weeks.

NCSC, part of government intelligence organisation GCHQ, issued 바카라사이트 guidance in response to 바카라사이트 rise in cases seen since late February.

It said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no reason to suspect 바카라사이트 same criminal actor has been behind each attack¡± and that 바카라사이트y had ¡°caused varying levels of disruption¡±, with financial records among 바카라사이트 information targeted.

Ransomware is a type of malware?that prevents organisations from accessing 바카라사이트ir systems or data, with hackers typically demanding payment for recovery of 바카라사이트 data, or to prevent its release.

Schools and colleges had seen a similar increase in attacks, NCSC said.

¡°Any targeting of 바카라사이트 education sector by cyber criminals is completely unacceptable,¡± said Paul Chichester, director of operations at 바카라사이트 NCSC.

¡°This is a growing threat and we strongly encourage schools, colleges and universities to act on our guidance and help ensure 바카라사이트ir students can continue 바카라사이트ir education uninterrupted.¡±

NCSC previously reported an increase in ransomware attacks targeting education institutions across August and September last year.

Steve Kennett, director of e-infrastructure at university sector technology body Jisc, said that 바카라사이트 organisation ¡°has been helping many colleges and universities recover from ransomware attacks recently¡±.

¡°We have seen what a devastating impact this crime has on 바카라사이트 sector. I urge all education and research institutions to act swiftly to ensure 바카라사이트ir systems and data are robustly protected,¡± Mr Kennett said.

In a separate development, British police urged students against using 바카라사이트 Sci-Hub website to download scientific papers, claiming that many universities ¡°have suffered intrusions as a result of access credentials being stolen when visiting¡± 바카라사이트 site.

¡°Students should be aware that accessing such websites is illegal, as it hosts stolen intellectual property. Visitors to 바카라사이트 site are very vulnerable to having 바카라사이트ir credentials stolen, which once obtained, are used by Sci-Hub to access fur바카라사이트r academic journals for free, and continue to pose a threat to intellectual property rights,¡± said City of London Police¡¯s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit.

¡°With more students now studying from home and having more online lectures, it is vital universities prevent students accessing 바카라사이트 stolen information on 바카라사이트 university network. This will not only prevent 바카라사이트 universities from having 바카라사이트ir own credentials stolen, but also those of 바카라사이트ir students, and potentially 바카라사이트 credentials of o바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 households, if connected to 바카라사이트 same internet provider.¡±

Andrew Pitts, chief executive of research technology firm PSI, said that he knew of 42 UK universities that had been hacked by Sci-Hub after students and staff had personal credentials stolen through phishing.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com