Cyberattack Targets Over Two Million at Columbia University

A skilled hacktivist reportedly stole sensitive information from more than two million students, applicants, and staff members at Columbia University in an apparent politically motivated attack.

The attacker, who caused the university’s systems to go offline for several hours, accessed social security numbers, citizenship details, university IDs, application outcomes, employee salaries, and other private data, according to reports. The breach appeared to focus on specific documents to support a political cause, with some indicating the attacker intended to reveal practices related to affirmative action, which was recently restricted by the Supreme Court.

After a thorough investigation with cybersecurity experts, the university confirmed that the incident was due to unauthorized access, and initial findings suggest stolen data was limited to certain network areas. The hacker later claimed responsibility anonymously, stating they had spent over two months infiltrating the university’s servers, targeting documents related to affirmative action policies. Among the data extracted were approximately 2.5 million application records spanning decades and financial aid information.

The breach caused disruptions such as students and faculty being locked out of key systems, and bizarre images appeared on campus screens, including one showing President Trump on a dorm TV. Most services have since been restored, but the university continues to investigate the attack’s full scope.

University officials emphasized that Columbia’s admission procedures remain compliant with legal standards and that the Irving Medical Center was unaffected. They also stated they are evaluating additional security measures to prevent future incidents.

Authorities indicated detection of the hacker’s tactics and signature, with no further malicious activity reported. The university’s leadership is working to address concerns within the community regarding the extent of the personal information compromised, assuring that ongoing efforts are focused on safeguarding its network and data.