Mount Royal University Faces Data Breach After Cyberattack

Mount Royal University (MRU) in Calgary has confirmed a significant data breach following a cyberattack that occurred on June 17. Hackers infiltrated the university's network, stealing data before deleting it from file storage systems.

The Impact of the Cyberattack

The breach has disrupted various university operations, including online services and internal systems. MRU, which has a long-standing history of over a century and serves approximately 11,560 students, is taking the threat seriously.

Investigation and Response

In response to the incident, MRU has mobilized technical teams and external cybersecurity experts to investigate the breach and assist in recovery efforts. The university is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its community.

Details of the Data Compromised

The investigation has revealed that the attackers accessed and took data from specific folders on the university's 'H drive.' This drive is commonly used by students and employees for file storage.

Additional Data Loss

In addition to the stolen data, the hackers deleted information from another drive, referred to as the 'J drive,' which contained departmental data. MRU stated that there is currently no evidence indicating that the data on the J drive was accessed before its deletion.

Next Steps and Reporting

The university has reported the incident to the Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner, as well as local law enforcement authorities. MRU is working diligently to recover the deleted data from the J drive, although full recovery may not be achievable.

Key Takeaways

This incident underscores the increasing risks that educational institutions face regarding data security. Here are some key points to consider:

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