Security News > 2023 > January > Royal ransomware claims attack on Queensland University of Technology
The Royal ransomware gang has claimed responsibility for a recent cyberattack on the Queensland University of Technology and begun to leak data allegedly stolen during the security breach.
Queensland University of Technology is one of the largest universities in Australia by the number of students, operating on a budget that surpasses one billion A$. The university is focused on scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical studies and has received significant government funding to back its research in recent years.
The university shut down all IT systems to prevent the attack's spread, and the university is working with external experts to respond to the security incident.
"Our university staff are working around the clock to assess the situation, restore services and limit disruption to students and academic progress," reads the QUT announcement.
While the university says there is no evidence of data being stolen, the Royal ransomware operation has already begun publishing data that they claim was stolen from QUT. In a new entry on their data leak site, the ransomware group leaked HR files, email and letter communications, ID cards and documents, and financial and administrative documents that they state represents 10% of the data stolen during the attack.
The Royal ransomware operation started in September 2022 as a spin-off of the notorious Conti ransomware group, which shut down in May 2022.
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