University of Management and Technology (UMT) Hit by Ransomware Attack
UMT recently fell victim to a ransomware attack, disrupting its online database and ERP system and impacting numerous internal services.
The attack has hindered UMT’s ability to carry out various operations, including course registration, fee challan generation, attendance tracking, and grading transcript management.
Reports indicate that the university’s data center suffered damage from the ransomware virus, leading to system and operational disruptions.
The personal information of thousands of students and employees is now at risk.
According to an internal memo obtained by ProPakistani, the attackers targeted UMT’s data center, severely impacting their systems and operations. Efforts are underway to restore critical services such as student and faculty portals, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) services, and the attendance system.
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UMT has assured that services will be restored within a few days, but it has been nearly a month since the attack, and the systems remain inaccessible.
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s data, files, devices, or systems, making them unusable until a ransom is paid.
The hackers’ identity and the damage’s extent are still unclear.
UMT’s Public Relations officer informed ProPakistani that the university’s systems were affected by the ransomware attack but are gradually being restored. He stated that student registrations and other systems are operational once again.
Globally, ransomware groups have intensified their attacks on governments, high-profile organizations, and specific individuals within organizations. Kaspersky’s latest research reveals a 30% increase in targeted ransomware groups worldwide from 2022 to 2023, with a 70% spike in victims within the same period.
