Cyber breach hits 7,500 people at Western Sydney University

A cyber breach at Western Sydney University has compromised the data of about 7,500 people, including staff and students.

A cyber breach at Western Sydney University has compromised the data of about 7,500 people.

Western Sydney University has told about 7500 people, including staff and students, that their private information may have been accessed in a cyber breach of its IT network.

The university said it informed affected individuals on Tuesday following an investigation that began in January when the breach was noticed “and quickly shut down”.

Since then, the university said, it had worked to “understand the nature, scope and scale of the incident, the number of individuals impacted, and to protect against further harm”.

Intruders are first known to have breached the university’s Microsoft 365 system in May last year and accessed some email ­accounts and SharePoint files.

“Investigations also indicate that the university’s Solar Car Laboratory infrastructure may have been used as part of the incident,” the university said in a statement.

“Importantly, there have been no threats received by the university to disclose any of the private information which was accessed, and the university has not received any demands in exchange for maintaining privacy.”

Interim vice-chancellor Clare Pollock unreservedly apologised for the situation. “We have established a dedicated phone line and website to answer any questions you might have,” she said.

Universities are regarded as being at high risk for cyber attack. A 2022 breach at Deakin University compromised the data of tens of thousands of students and another at the University of Tasmania in 2020 afffected 20,000 students.