Courts / Ireland / Report

Russian hackers hold university to ransom, threaten to release student information

Summary

In a High Court hearing on 11 February 2023, Munster Technological University (MTU) reported that it had been targeted by a ransomware group known as ALPHV, also called BLACKCAT or NOBERUS, believed to be based in Russia or the former Soviet Union. The attackers, allegedly former members of the REvil group, had infiltrated MTU's IT system and issued a ransom note demanding a substantial payment by 11:45 pm on 10 February. MTU refused to pay and threatened that the attackers would publish confidential data about staff and students. The court granted an emergency temporary injunction preventing the attackers and anyone with knowledge of the order from publishing or sharing any of the university's confidential material, and requiring any such material to be handed over to MTU. The injunction also allowed MTU's lawyers to serve notice on the parties believed to be behind the attack via the Darknet page where the ransom note was posted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Russian hackers hold university to ransom, threaten to release student information. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• Sunday February 5th Other
• 2023-02-11 Publication

Why: The injunction has been sought in order to protect the personal data of MTU students and staff and prevent Blackcat and anyone else from taking advantage of the breach of its IT system, and from breaching any property and privacy rights of those whose data may be affected. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report