Leipzig University remains offline after cyberattack this week
All internet-connected servers at Germany's University of Leipzig have stayed offline since a hacker attack on Wednesday, affecting 30,000 students.
Also in:Deutsch
The University of Leipzig in Germany remains largely offline after a cyberattack that knocked out all of its internet-connected servers on Wednesday, the university said.
A crisis team was working "at full speed" to fix the problem, according to a statement on the university's website. The circumstances of the attack remain unclear. About 30,000 students and the university's staff have been affected, Der Spiegel reported.
University leadership said it was aiming to restore at least part of normal operations soon, but that securing all data was the first priority. An external IT emergency service provider has been brought in to help, according to the university.
In-person teaching is continuing as planned in designated rooms, the university said, though digital classes may be postponed or moved to external servers. A public event on Friday to present a candidate for rector will go ahead as scheduled, but without a livestream because of the cyberattack.
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What we know
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Der Spiegel +1 All internet-connected servers at the University of Leipzig went offline after a cyberattack on Wednesday
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Der Spiegel About 30,000 students and staff have been affected
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Der Spiegel +1 A crisis team is working to fix the problem; the cause of the attack is still unclear
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Der Spiegel In-person teaching continues, but some digital classes may be postponed or moved to external servers
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed What caused the attack, and who may be responsible, has not been established
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
German universities have faced a series of cyberattacks on their IT systems this year, including one that knocked grades and timetables offline at universities in Baden-Württemberg, pointing to a wider pattern of attacks on higher-education networks in Germany.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 2 countries.
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Questions and answers
- What happened at the University of Leipzig?
- A cyberattack on Wednesday knocked all of the university's internet-connected servers offline, and many systems remained down days later.
- How many people are affected?
- About 30,000 students, along with university staff, have been affected, according to Der Spiegel.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.