After UH pays out hackers, experts warn cyber-attacks could be growing trend.
We’re learning more about the University of Hawaii’s six-figure payment to hackers.
In recent news, the University of Hawaii (UH) has been making headlines due to a six-figure payment to hackers. UH was forced to pay the hefty ransom after hackers breached the school’s computer system, locking students and staff out of their accounts and data.
The attack was particularly damaging as it caused UH to suspend all online classes and disrupted the school’s email and other systems. While the university has since been able to regain control of its systems, the attack has raised questions about how such an incident could have been prevented or mitigated.
In response to the attack, the university paid the hackers a ransom in Bitcoin, an electronic currency. This payment was made in order to regain access to the school’s data and allow students and staff to once again access their accounts.
The incident has caused some to question the university’s decision to pay the hackers, as well as why the school did not have better security measures in place in the first place. In addition, the incident has raised concerns about the potential for future attacks on other universities, as hackers may now see universities as a lucrative target.
In response to the incident, the university has stated that it is taking steps to beef up its security measures, including the implementation of two-factor authentication and additional encryption. It is also taking steps to ensure that all data is securely backed up.
While the University of Hawaii’s six-figure payment to hackers is certainly concerning, it is important to note that the school is taking steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. It is also important to remember that while paying a ransom might seem like an easy solution in the moment, it is not a long-term solution for preventing cyberattacks.