The University of Pennsylvania confirms hacker stole data during cyberattack, marking a serious breach that targeted alumni and development systems. The university first dismissed suspicious emails as fraudulent, but later verified that attackers did steal information before systems were secured. Many alumni reported receiving alarming messages from official @upenn.edu email accounts, raising safety and privacy concerns.
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Did the Hacker Access Sensitive Data?
According to the University of Pennsylvania, only a select group of systems tied to alumni and development operations was compromised. The hacker sent threatening emails claiming stolen data would be leaked and mocked federal privacy laws. While full details remain undisclosed, Penn says systems were quickly locked down to prevent further unauthorized access.
Was the Fraudulent Email Actually Real?
Yes. Though initially labeled “fraudulent,” the university later confirmed the hacker sent an offensive and unauthorized email to community members. The message came from legitimate university email addresses, including those of senior staff. This confirms the attacker gained deeper system access than first acknowledged.
What Is the University Doing About the Cyberattack?
University of Pennsylvania officials say they immediately secured affected systems. The investigation continues as the institution works to determine what data was taken and notify impacted individuals. Alumni are urged to ignore malicious emails and monitor accounts for unusual activity as the university conducts remediation.
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