Seoul Cyber University reports leak of student, faculty personal data
In short
Seoul Cyber University said personal information of its students and faculty was leaked after the school was notified on Oct 4 that material believed to be members' data had been posted on an external site. The school said the leaked items included names, student numbers, dates of birth, contact details, emails, addresses, departments, enrollment status and academic records, and that it has found no sign that encrypted data was decrypted. It has formed an emergency task force and says the exact scale and timing of the leak are still under investigation.
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Seoul Cyber University said students' and faculty members' personal information was leaked after the school was notified that material believed to belong to its members had been posted on an external site. The school said the notification came on Oct 4 from the Korea Internet & Security Agency. The leaked data, according to the school, included names, student numbers, dates of birth, contact details, email addresses, addresses, departments, enrollment status, and admission and academic records. [ 1 ]
The school said it had so far found no indication that encrypted information was decrypted. A school official said the school had identified circumstances in which sensitive information was leaked in an encrypted state, adding that “the exact scale and timing of the leak are being investigated with related agencies.” The school said it formed an emergency task force, reported the matter to related agencies and is working to establish how the leak occurred and to prevent further damage. [ 1 ]
Newsis reported that the leaked information covered students, faculty and applicants, a wider group than the students and faculty named in Yonhap's report. Yonhap did not mention applicants. Neither outlet gave a figure for the number of people affected, and the school said the scale is still being determined. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The incident concerns personal data of students and faculty at a South Korean university, and one report says applicants' information may also be involved, leaving those affected exposed to possible misuse of their details. The school says the extent is not yet known and that it is working with related agencies, so the scale of the leak and any consequences remain unresolved.
Key facts
- Seoul Cyber University said personal information of its students and faculty was leaked. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The school said it was notified on Oct 4 by the Korea Internet & Security Agency that material believed to be members' personal data had been posted on an external site. [ 1 ]
- Leaked items included names, student numbers, dates of birth, contact details, email addresses, addresses, departments, enrollment status and admission and academic records. [ 1 ]
- The school said it has not confirmed any case in which encrypted information was decrypted. [ 1 ]
- The school formed an emergency task force, reported the matter to related agencies and is investigating how the leak occurred and how to prevent further damage. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reported that the leaked data includes information on students, faculty and applicants. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Seoul Cyber University's students and faculty had personal information leaked. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The leaked data included names, student numbers, dates of birth, contact details, email addresses, addresses, departments, enrollment status and admission and academic records, according to the school. [ 1 ]
- The school said no case has been confirmed in which encrypted information was decrypted. [ 1 ]
- The school said it formed an emergency task force and reported the matter to related agencies. [ 1 ]
Still unclear
- The exact scale and timing of the leak. The school said these are still being investigated with related agencies; no figure or date has been given.
- Whether applicants' information was also leaked. Only Newsis's report mentions applicants; the Yonhap report names students and faculty.
- Whether the leaked personal data has been decrypted or exposed in readable form. The school said no such case had been confirmed so far and that the investigation is ongoing.