The following is the text of an email reportedly sent to TU students. It was submitted anonymously to DataBreaches.net:
Dear Students,
The Tallaght campus has been subjected to a significant ransomware attack on our entire on-site ICT systems. The disruption to services occurred early on Thursday morning and the cause later identified as a ransomware attack. Due to the malware encryption put on our systems in this attack, we do not currently have user access to our main ICT systems and back-ups on campus. At this time, our cloud-based services appear unaffected but are being reviewed.
At this time, remote user access through our cloud services for our main ICT systems remain operational and available including Moodle, Email and TEAMS. Our understanding currently is devices used through our cloud-based systems has not been compromised by this malware and this continues to be the case. However, due to the on-ongoing review of our systems, there may be disruptions to these services from time to time in the coming days and minor levels of functionality in each of these systems may not be available.
The University is collating all relevant information to report this event and fully co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities including the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and An Garda Siochana.
This attack does not include any ICT systems or processes on the City and Blanchardstown campuses.
Computer Services in Tallaght, with colleagues across the University and with support from external cybersecurity, technical and legal experts, are currently investigating the source and impact of this attack on our systems, as well as working to return access for all users as soon as possible.
The University does not currently have a definite timeline for when full ICT services will be available on the Tallaght campus. Updates will be provided in further communications in the coming days.
Students are requested, in addition to the current Level 5 Covid 19 restrictions on our activities on campus and as we are primarily operating and providing our services remotely:
- Do not attend on campus to use or attempt to use any of the on-site ICT equipment (desktops etc.) for the coming week up to Monday 12 April. Other approved attendances on campus if any, may continue.
- Please do not contact by email, phone or any other method, computer services on campus with individual queries or request for services. They are currently exclusively working protecting our ICT systems and recovering our services for all users as soon as possible. If it is a serious issue, please send your request to your Head of Department in the first instance.
I can assure you we are all doing everything possible to have our systems secured and back to normal as soon as possible. Further information will be provided by regular updates in the coming days as well as in consultation with the Student Union.
Please accept my thanks for your support and understanding at this difficult time.
Yours Sincerely,
Thomas Stone
Principal – Tallaght Campus
Technological University Dublin–