‘Stressed’ QUT students unload after ‘complex’ cyber attack

Just weeks out from exams, students at Queensland University of Technology say they have been “massively hindered” following a cyber attack that has led to staff being called in from holidays.

Queensland University of Technology staff have been pulled in to address a complex cyber security breach that’s expected to impact upcoming exams. Picture: Dan Peled

Queensland University of Technology staff have been pulled in from Christmas holidays to help address the fallout of a cyber attack that has shut down systems and postponed exams.

The university was last week hit by global hacking group Royal Ransomware in a cyber breach just days after first-round offers were sent to students.

A QUT spokeswoman said several systems, including its blackboard, eStudent and digital workplace, had been taken down as a precaution so malware could be eradicated.

The spokeswoman said experts had been called in to work alongside staff for a detailed investigation to how its cyber security was breached.

Frustrated students unloaded on dedicated QUT social media threads, saying they were unable to access vital study services weeks out from exams.

“I’ve got an assignment due on the 16th of January, I haven’t been able to access any content on blackboard which is beyond frustrating and has massively hindered my study over the past week… it is super stressful,” one student said.

Queensland University of Technology online systems remain shut down following a cyber attack last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“The only thing I seem to be able to access is the textbook, no lecture content or recordings,” another student said.

“People have the right to be upset and stressed about this. It is simply not good enough,” said another.

In a statement on the university’s website addressing the cyber attack, the university said supplementary or deferred exams previously scheduled from January 9-21 would be postponed until February.

It said QUT campuses would reopen on Tuesday but the system disruptions were expected to continue for “some weeks”.

The QUT spokeswoman said the university wanted to ensure students were not “unduly” disadvantaged from the “complex” disruption.

“We are prioritising restoration of the systems that support teaching and learning as soon as it is possible and safe to do so,” she said.

Queensland University of Technology said supplementary or deferred exams previously scheduled from January 9-21 would be postponed until February.

“We have communicated to students to let them know that they can expect more information but we need to ensure that we give them directly the accurate and relevant information for their specific situations and course.”

The spokeswoman said students and staff would be continually be updated as the “ongoing” incident progressed.

“Staff have made themselves available to work throughout the holiday break period when the university would normally be closed,” she said.

“We have staff working to resolve the issue and to respond to student and staff inquiries.”

The spokeswoman said it was believed no student or staff data had been compromised by the attack.

She said the university was constantly updating its own cyber security measures.

Royal Ransomware is a prominent hacking group that has been launching cyber attacks on large businesses and organisations around the globe in the past few months.

Originally published as ‘Stressed’ QUT students unload after ‘complex’ cyber attack