Hackers Hit Truman State University

Cybercriminals have infected Truman State University with malware, cutting internet connections across the campus, affecting email services and other IT-dependent activities.

Truman State, ranked the #1 public school in the Midwest for 26 consecutive years, is a public university in the US state of Missouri, with more than 4,200 enrolled students as of autumn 2021.

TSU last week began sending out notifications on social media regarding a “potential cybersecurity issue” detected April 21.

“Out of an abundance of caution,” the university’s Information Technology Services recommended, “all Truman-issued computers and workstations be powered down and remain inactive until the event was resolved,” the institution said in an FAQ page on the incident. “Student devices are not at risk. Personal devices are safe to use on campus but will require cellular data.”

The attack cancelled online classes and affected “specialized software,” TSU said, adding that “student computer classrooms are not yet functional.”

Students have been asked not to use university-owned Windows systems until they are told to do so. Those who use a Mac or a Linux computer can continue their activities, albeit without access to the university network.

In a follow-up, Truman officials said “someone released malware across the University network” adding that it “is believed to be part of a rash of attacks on colleges and universities, and it is currently affecting some other schools as well.”

While not naming the type of malware deployed, the signs point to a ransomware attack. No hacking group has yet taken responsibility for the hack.

At this time, TSU claims it is too early to tell if the attackers managed to steal any student or university data.