Sapienza University IT services offline after cyberattack by ‘pro-Russian’ hackers

ROME – Sapienza University’s website and digital services were inaccessible on Wednesday, said Il Messaggero, after a cyberattack carried out by suspected pro-Russian hackers. The outage, now entering its third day, has seen students at Italy’s largest university unable to access the online student portal used to register for exams, pay fees, and handle many administrative aspects of academic life.

In a statement released via its social media channels, the Rome-based university said it was responding to the emergency in a “unified and coordinated manner,” assuring concerned students that the institution was “evaluating extensions and flexible arrangements to protect careers.” The incident is also being investigated by the Postal and Communications Police and the National Cybersecurity Agency.

While Sapienza University’s leadership has not released details on the identity or motivations of the hackers, media reports have suggested the university fell victim to a ransomware attack by pro-Russian groups.

Cited as an increasing threat by cybersecurity experts in recent years, ransomware attacks typically involve using malicious code to encrypt the target’s computer data, rendering it inaccessible. The hackers then demand a ransom, often some form of cryptocurrency, to prevent them destroying or leaking sensitive information. According to media reports, Sapienza University was given a 72-hour ultimatum to pay the undisclosed fee.

This is not the first time that Italy’s largest university has fallen victim to cybercriminals. Students and staff will be hoping to avoid a repeat of July, 2011, when an attack impacting dozens of Italian universities, including Sapienza, saw hackers leak the sensitive information of thousands of students and professors online.