Columbia University faces data breach amid political tensions

In the United States, Columbia University suffered a serious cyberattack on June 24, 2025, which led to significant disruptions of its IT systems. The breach was executed by a politically motivated hacker who managed to infiltrate the university's data systems, stealing a considerable amount of student records. During the attack, students and faculty were locked out of crucial resources, such as email and coursework platforms, for several hours, creating widespread chaos on campus. In a peculiar twist, the hacker displayed images of former President Donald Trump on public monitors throughout the school, signaling a possible political motivation for the attack. Following the incident, Columbia officials initiated a thorough investigation, collaborating with cybersecurity experts to determine the extent of the breach and the potential consequences for those whose personal information was compromised. While they confirmed the unauthorized access to student data, they also reassured the community that they had restored operations and had not detected further malicious activity on their networks since the attack. The university's response emphasized its ongoing commitment to transparency, pledging to update the affected individuals as more details emerged regarding the scope of the data theft. Initial reports indicated that the hacker targeted specific documents, which suggested that the attack was not random but rather an act of “hacktivism,” aiming to further a political agenda. This incident unfolded amid a backdrop of tension between Columbia and the Trump administration, which had threatened to withdraw federal funding over alleged failures to adequately protect Jewish students. As investigations continue, the full scale of the data breach remains uncertain, with university officials acknowledging that it may take months to ascertain all the compromised information. The scenario raises critical questions about cybersecurity practices in educational institutions and the implications of politically motivated hacking, highlighting the intersections of technology, education, and politics in a digital age.