“University of Michigan Suspends Public Internet Access After Major Cybersecurity Incident”

University of Michigan Faces Internet Shutdown on Eve of New School Year

The University of Michigan experienced a two-day internet shutdown due to a significant cybersecurity concern. Staff shut down the school’s internet connections just before the start of the new school year, causing major disruptions to campus IT systems used for research and fundraising. The shutdown may also lead to delays in financial aid reimbursements. While campus computers are generally isolated from the public internet, students were able to find workarounds using their cell phones. However, the university acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the outage, which affected approximately 50,000 students at its flagship Ann Arbor campus.

University of Michigan President Santa Ono expressed his disappointment with the situation, stating that the loss of internet access cast a cloud over an otherwise sunny and glorious start to the academic year. Students like Katherine Kiessling, a senior majoring in dance and computer engineering, faced difficulties accessing lecture materials online. Kiessling had to return to her off-campus apartment to complete her work between classes. She anticipated having to rely on her apartment’s internet for the entire week.

The cause of the internet outage remains unclear, but the university’s statements suggest that malicious cyber activity was to blame. University spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen stated that they had no additional information beyond what was publicly disclosed. This incident comes shortly after the White House held a high-profile meeting with K-12 school administrators, emphasizing the importance of protecting schools from ransomware attacks and other cyber threats.

The University of Michigan is not the only educational institution to face cybersecurity challenges. Lincoln College, a predominantly Black institution in Illinois, was forced to permanently close last year due to a cyberattack and financial struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While primary and secondary schools often lack resources to defend against cyber threats, universities of all sizes have also fallen victim to cybercriminals.

The university is actively working to restore full internet access and assist students in accessing resources from off-campus computer networks. The recovery process is ongoing, and updates will be provided as progress is made. The University of Michigan is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its network and will take necessary measures to prevent future cybersecurity incidents.

This story will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-29 23:46:00