Members of the University of Pennsylvania community recently received emails claiming the institution had been hacked. The emails, originating from addresses associated with the Graduate School of Education, contained derogatory remarks about the university and its admissions practices.
The messages included statements alleging poor security practices at the university and criticized its admission policies. The sender claimed that the university favored “legacies, donors, and unqualified affirmative action admits,” and suggested that it disrespected laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which safeguards student information. The references in the emails also included the organization Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), connected to the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding race-based affirmative action.
In response to the situation, the University of Pennsylvania issued a statement acknowledging the fraudulent emails, noting that they were being circulated with alarming subject lines like “We got hacked (Action Required).” The university’s Office of Information Security is currently investigating the matter, stating that its Incident Response team is actively involved in addressing the issue.
Furthermore, the university clarified that the content of the emails does not reflect its mission or the operations of the Graduate School of Education. This incident raises questions about cybersecurity measures in place at major educational institutions and the potential implications for sensitive student information.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/811600/university-of-pennsylvania-hack-woke