Vanderbilt University was thrust into chaos Monday as a cybersecurity attack forced administrators to shut down university devices and disconnect from Wi-Fi. The breach, which unfolded throughout the morning, disrupted campus operations and left staff scrambling to prevent further damage.
A Voice Message Warns ‘Make the Right Choice’
Employees reported hearing a recorded message on university-issued devices, with a cryptic warning: “Make the right choice or rot with the wrong one.” Laurie Woods, a criminology professor, told The Vanderbilt Hustler that the message played during her lecture, accompanied by 40 suspicious “Read Me” documents. “It is out of our control, so all we can do is make the best of it,” she said, adding that the incident underscored “the power of internet and AI.”
Ransomware Group BYOD Claims Responsibility
The attack appears to be the work of BYOD, a ransomware group that has recently targeted other academic institutions, including Michigan State University and the University of New Mexico Health System. The group allegedly claimed to have stolen sensitive Vanderbilt data, including university research, student and employee records, and more than a million Social Security numbers. So far, the university has not confirmed these claims.
University Urges Caution as Some Services Remain Down
Students were instructed to continue attending classes, but some services—including ticket access for Vanderbilt’s upcoming football game against Alabama—were unavailable. IT teams worked throughout the day to contain the breach, while faculty and staff were told to remain vigilant for additional suspicious activity.
With 14,000 students and over 7,000 employees, the full impact of the attack remains unclear, leaving the Vanderbilt community on edge as officials race to assess the damage.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/vanderbilt-hackers-leave-message-on-campus-screens-with-claim-that-hits-close-to-home