New York has been rocked by a recent cyberattack on Columbia University, which targeted its data systems as part of a politically driven breach. This incident, which occurred on June 24, involved the theft of vast amounts of student documents and led to a temporary shutdown of the university’s computer systems, according to a university representative.
This malicious cyber event resulted in significant network disruptions on campus, with students and faculty unable to access their email accounts, academic materials, and video conferencing platforms for several hours. Coinciding with the attack, several public monitors across Columbia’s Manhattan campus unexpectedly displayed the smiling image of former President Donald Trump.
Columbia University has refrained from disclosing specific details regarding the political motivations behind the security breach. However, university officials have characterized the hacker as a sophisticated “hacktivist” who infiltrated private student records to advance a political cause. It remains uncertain whether the display of Trump’s photo was linked to the data theft.
The university has committed to investigating the extent of the breach thoroughly and intends to communicate its findings with the university community and any individuals whose personal data might have been compromised. This attack has unfolded amid ongoing tensions between Columbia and the Trump administration, which has threatened to withdraw $400 million in federal funds, citing the university’s alleged failure to protect Jewish students.
Negotiations surrounding a potential resolution are still in process, and Columbia has already acquiesced to several demands from the Trump administration. Changes include new oversight for the university’s Middle East studies department and revisions to policies concerning protests and student discipline.
This incident at Columbia follows a similar cybersecurity breach in March at New York University, where student admission records unexpectedly surfaced on the school’s website. The hacker responsible for that attack claimed it aimed to demonstrate non-compliance with the Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions. In response, NYU clarified that the data displayed was “inaccurate and misleading,” asserting their adherence to legal standards.