The University of Sydney (USYD) recently disclosed a data breach resulting from an incident at a third-party service provider. This breach exposed the personal information of international applicants who had either recently applied or enrolled at the university.
USYD, one of Australia’s most prestigious educational institutions, with a history dating back to 1850, emphasized that the breach had a limited impact. Furthermore, their preliminary investigation found no evidence that local students, staff, or alumni were affected by the incident.
USYD assured the public that the issue was isolated to a single platform and did not affect other university systems. They also stated that, at this time, there is no indication that any of the exposed personal information has been misused.
However, the university has not yet provided specific details about the timing of the breach or which third-party service was compromised. In response to the incident, USYD is actively contacting those impacted and offering support to mitigate any potential risks.
While no disruptions in USYD’s systems have been reported, the university advises its students, particularly international applicants, to remain vigilant and exercise caution when encountering unsolicited communications, such as phishing attempts.
Students are encouraged to report any suspicious activities or inquiries to ict.support@sydney.edu.au. USYD continues to investigate the extent of the breach and urges international applicants to follow the guidance provided on its official website.
