Columbia University in New York recently faced a major cyberattack that caused a campus-wide internet outage and led to the theft of student records. The university believes this was done by a politically motivated hacker, also known as a “hacktivist.”
What Happened in the Cyberattack?
On June 24, the hacker broke into Columbia’s computer systems, stealing private student documents and causing a shutdown of key services. Students and staff were locked out of their emails, class materials, and video conferencing tools for several hours.
To make things even more confusing, images of former US President Donald Trump appeared on public screens around the campus on the same day.
While it’s unclear if the Trump images are directly linked to the hacker, the school says the attack was likely political in nature. The university is now investigating how much information was stolen and plans to inform everyone whose data may have been affected.
Columbia Under Political Pressure
This attack happened while Columbia University was already under scrutiny from the Trump administration. The government has threatened to take away $400 million in funding from the university, accusing it of not protecting Jewish students properly.
To resolve the issue, Columbia has started making changes. This includes placing its Middle East Studies department under new supervision and updating its rules on student protests and discipline. Talks between the university and the government are still ongoing.
Similar Cyberattacks on Other Schools
This is not the first time a major university has been targeted. In March, New York University (NYU) also faced a cyberattack. During that incident, student admission records briefly appeared online.
A hacker claimed responsibility and said the purpose was to show that NYU was not following the Supreme Court’s decision against affirmative action in college admissions.
NYU later clarified that the leaked information was incorrect and that the school follows all legal rules.
The Columbia University cyberattack highlights growing concerns about digital safety in colleges, especially as politics become more involved in education. With sensitive student data at risk, schools need stronger cybersecurity to protect their students and staff.
While Columbia works to understand the full impact of this breach, it also faces serious political pressure that could affect its future funding and policies.
Students and the university community are now waiting to learn if their personal information was compromised and how the school will respond moving forward.
