Mount Royal University hit by ransomware attack, data stolen and deleted

Mount Royal University in Calgary has confirmed that hackers stole and subsequently deleted data from its file storage systems after breaching the university's network on June 17. The incident disrupted a wide range of university systems, including online services and internet access, according to a recent report by Bleeping Computer.

The cyberattack, claimed by the threat group CMD Organization, involved the theft of data from the university's "H drive," which contained information for current and former students and employees. The attackers also deleted data from a separate "J drive" used for departmental files, though there is no evidence it was accessed before deletion. CMD Organization has demanded a ransom of 30 Bitcoin, approximately $1.9 million, and has begun leaking samples of the stolen data, including passport scans.

The university is working with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to investigate and recover systems, a process expected to take weeks to months. Mount Royal University is offering two years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection to affected individuals.

Source: Bleeping Computer