Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) has not yet recovered from a cyberattack that struck its servers over two weeks ago.
Investigators from the FBI and the University of Texas (UT) System are looking into the breach that SFA believes occurred between June 10-12, according to the Texas Tribune.
Internet-based services such as email and the online teaching portal were immediately cut to prevent the supposed hackers from further access to the network.
Approximately 11,600 students are enrolled at the East Texas public institution, with between 2,000 and 2,500 living on campus.
SFA spokesperson Graham Garner released a statement published by the Texas Tribune saying that the school was still providing student services and programs like freshman orientation.
Referring to the cyberattack, he said it was still under investigation, yet no evidence has suggested releasing any personal or sensitive information from students or staff.
While he did not comment on whether the alleged attackers had asked SFA to pay a ransom, an anonymous UT System employee suggested that a ransomware attack had struck the school, according to the Texas Tribune.
Ransomware attacks leverage malware to block a user from its own network — essentially holding it ransom in exchange for payment.
As The Dallas Express has extensively covered, federal and municipal authorities have been under siege by cyberattacks lately.
The City of Dallas was allegedly struck by a cyberattack on May 3, apparently disabling its systems and hindering the work of its departments. Nearly two months later, the City told The Dallas Express that it is still trying to restore and rebuild its computer networks and servers.
Other entities such as hospitals, airports, and, as exemplified by SFA’s recent difficulties, educational institutions have also been targeted by hackers.
Sophos, a cybersecurity firm based in the UK, reported in 2022 that not only have higher education institutions been increasingly prey to cyberattacks, but they are some of the slowest victims to recover. It found that 40% of the 410 higher education institutions responding to the survey needed longer than a month to fully recover.
For SFA students enrolled in summer courses, the cyberattack has been especially disruptive, as Macie Torres told the Texas Tribune.
As a special education paraprofessional seeking an early childhood education degree online, Torres signed up for five courses during summer break. The cyberattack struck right before her midterms.
“I started to panic and worry about when I would graduate, if this will affect my classes,” Torres told the Texas Tribune.
“It’s really just annoying because we have a plan,” she added. “There are single moms who are doing summer classes. There are people trying to jump back into the education world for summer classes. For this to happen, that kind of doesn’t motivate them to try more.”
SFA has made headway in restoring some online services and its website, yet struggles continue for many students like Torres trying to regain access to the school’s online learning platform and catch up with assignments.
Despite her professors adjusting assignments and exams in light of the cyberattack, Torres is still worried.
“I knew I would struggle in these areas and now I feel like I’m gonna struggle even more,” she said, according to the Texas Tribune.
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