Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has publicly apologized for a significant data breach that has compromised the personal information of over 320,000 individuals. The breach was discovered on August 1, 2024, after multiple hacking attempts on the university’s online system, “Oasis,” which were executed throughout Sunday. The attack was detected during the second attempt, which lasted for six hours and resulted in unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The exposed data includes names, national identification numbers, mobile numbers, email addresses, residential addresses, and academic details of 322,425 active students, alumni, and Continuing Education Center participants. This breach has led to considerable distress among the affected individuals, particularly after a file containing information on about 4,700 students was found to be searchable on Google, raising concerns about the long-term impact of the stolen data.
In response, JBNU has taken several steps to mitigate the damage, including implementing additional security measures and blocking illegal access from IP addresses traced to Japan and Hong Kong. The university has established a dedicated page for individuals to verify the leaked information and report any damages. JBNU is also collaborating with the Ministry of Education’s Cyber Security Center and the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency, which has launched an investigation into the incident.
Kim Soon-tae, head of JBNU’s Office of Information and Innovation, has issued a formal apology, emphasizing the university’s commitment to enhancing cybersecurity and preventing future breaches. The university’s proactive response, including its cooperation with authorities and efforts to support affected individuals, underscores its dedication to addressing the incident and protecting the personal information of its community.
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