The cyber attack on Queensland’s second-largest university caused campus printers in Queensland to produce ransomware notes in large quantities.
These are the key points
- Ransomware has attacked the Queensland University of Technology
- As a precaution, multiple IT systems were shut down.
- Margaret Sheil, vice-chancellor of the university, said that plans have been made for such attacks.
Multiple IT systems at the Queensland University of Technology have been shut down by the university as a precaution.
Professor Margaret Sheil, Vice-Chancellor of QUT, said that her printer was among the ones affected today.
“In mine, it printed until there was no paper in my print machine,” she stated.
The ransom note claims it is from ‘Royal Ransomware’. Professor Sheil claimed that this ransomware was a well-known scheme.
Recently, the United States health department issued a warning to hospitals regarding ransomware. The ransomware was first detected in America in September.
“Royal” is a more recent ransomware and much less is known about its operators and developers than other ransomware,” the American authorities warned two weeks ago in a note sent to healthcare professionals.
The ransomware note printed in black and white warns that “your critical data was not just encrypted, but also copied”, and could be published online if a “modest royalties” is not paid.
Professor Sheil stated that several systems were compromised, however, none of the “core” students, staff, financial systems, or staff appeared to have been involved.
Investigation underway
As a precaution, the university shut down its IT systems while external specialists and technical staff conduct an investigation.
Professor Sheil stated that “everything sensitive in terms holding data and such, we’ve shut it down.”
“Most systems that are not working are due to us closing them down or stopping access.
“There are other systems where they’re compromised – not necessarily shut down – but with a file might have been locked by the attack.”
Students and staff were contacted regarding the incident.
QUT is also in contact with students who were offered to study at the university today. Acceptance of an offer by the university is possible, but students will not be able to complete documentation until the IT systems are restored online.
Professor Sheil stated that “we want to reassure these hopefully very excited new students”
Professor Sheil claimed that the university had developed a plan for dealing with cyber-attacks and that federal authorities had been notified.
The federal Department of Education confirmed that it was aware of the incident.
