Columbia University’s Cyber Oops: 868,969 Personal Records Exposed in Data Breach Disaster
Columbia University was hit by a cyberattack, impacting 868,969 people and their personal data. The breach affected students, applicants, and employees, causing a technical outage. While no malicious activity has been observed since June 24, the university is offering free credit monitoring and identity protection services. The Columbia University data breach keeps cybersecurity experts on their toes.

Hot Take:
Well, Columbia University just enrolled itself in the School of Cyber Hard Knocks! With almost 869,000 people impacted, it seems their IT systems decided to take an unauthorized sabbatical. Lesson learned: never underestimate a hacker, even if they don’t come with a degree.
Key Points:
- Columbia University experienced a cyberattack, impacting 868,969 students, applicants, and employees.
- The breach exposed sensitive data including Social Security numbers and financial aid details.
- The incident led to a technical outage, hinting at a possible ransomware attack.
- Columbia offers two years of free credit monitoring and identity protection to affected individuals.
- No malicious activity since June 24, 2025, but investigations and precautions continue.
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