East Central University (ECU) Details

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    East Central University (ECU)

    Ada, Oklahoma • employees • Education

    https://www.ecok.edu/
    United States

    Industry

    Education

    Security Incidents

    1

    East Central University (ECU) is a public university located in Ada, Oklahoma. Founded in 1909 as East Central State Normal School, it was initially established to train teachers for the surrounding area. The institution underwent several transformations and adopted its current name in 1985 as it expanded its academic offerings and mission. ECU is part of Oklahoma's Regional University System and provides a range of undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition to its primary campus in Ada, the university offers courses in McAlester, Shawnee, and Durant, as well as online options.

    The univ...
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    Security Incidents

    East Central University (ECU) Breach of Feb 2024
    Severity Score
    Significant to High

    Type

    Ransomware Attack

    Summary

    East Central University (ECU) in Ada, Oklahoma, experienced a ransomware attack from the BlackSuit gang, which led to the encryption of various campus computers and servers. While critical services remained operational, sensitive information, including names and Social Security numbers, might have been compromised. ECU noticed an uptick in spam and malicious emails leading up to the February 16 attack, although the precise breach vector is yet to be confirmed.

    In response, ECU enlisted external cybersecurity experts, reset passwords for students, and reassessed its security infrastructure to ...
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    Severity

    East Central University (ECU) experienced a ransomware attack orchestrated by the BlackSuit ransomware gang. The attackers encrypted various campus computers and servers, while also potentially exfiltrating sensitive personal information, including names and Social Security numbers. Despite ECU's quick response involving external cybersecurity experts and system reassessments, the attack underscores significant vulnerabilities and opens up risks for fraudulent activities.

    Given the involvement of a sophisticated ransomware group, potential data theft, and the ongoing investigation into the b...
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    Impact

    The recent cyber incident involving East Central University (ECU) in Ada, Oklahoma, was identified as a ransomware attack orchestrated by the BlackSuit ransomware gang. This attack led to the encryption of various campus computers and servers but did not manage to take down the university’s critical services.

    Unfortunately, there is evidence that the attackers may have accessed sensitive personal identifiable information, specifically names and Social Security numbers. While the full extent of the breach is still under investigation, the potential exposure of such data raises significant conc...
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