Ransomware Strikes La Sapienza University

La Sapienza University in Rome, the largest in Europe by student count, recently faced a severe ransomware attack. This incident, highlighted by Bleeping Computer, has significantly disrupted their IT systems and affected daily operations.

Earlier this week, the university confirmed the breach and proactively shut down its network for safety. Though the details are still under wraps, reports from Corriere Della Sera attribute the attack to Femwar02, a pro-Russian hacking group. They reportedly used a ransomware variant similar to Bablock/Rorschach, known for its rapid encryption since emerging in 2023.

University’s Response and Recovery Efforts

In a move to handle the situation, La Sapienza has decided not to negotiate with the hackers, avoiding the 72-hour ransom deadline. Corriere Della Sera reports that while the university’s data remains encrypted, their IT staff are working diligently alongside Italy’s cybersecurity experts and law enforcement. Their main priority is restoring systems from secure backups.

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Source: Bleeping Computer

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