A third party gained access to the University of Michigan’s systems, leading to an Internet outage in August

ANN ARBOR, MI – A third-party source broke into the University of Michigan’s computer systems, causing the university to shut down the Internet at the start of the fall semester, officials said.

The university first detected suspicious activity on its campus computer network on Aug. 23, according to university spokeswoman Kim Brookhuizen. The university’s information assurance team, which combats cyber security threats and malicious agents, shut down the system on the afternoon of August 27.

According to officials, an investigation into the hack was launched and with the help of third-party experts, it was determined that an unauthorized person was able to access some university systems from August 23 to 27.

Based on this analysis of the data, we believe that an unauthorized third party was able to access personal information about students and certain applicants, alumni and donors, employees and contractors, University Health Services and Dental School patients, and participants in Access the study. In an email to MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

The University has determined that students, applicants, alumni, donors, employees, and contractors have access to the following information: Social Security numbers, driver’s license or other government-issued identification numbers, payment card financial account numbers, and/or health information. , Authorities. said.

According to officials, research study participants had access to the same information, plus any information related to participation in certain research studies, through the university’s health department and dental school.

In addition to disconnecting the campus network from the Internet, the university has notified law enforcement and is working with outside cybersecurity experts to make its network more secure, officials said.

Letters were sent on Monday, Oct. 23 to everyone affected on campus, officials said. According to officials, people who have sensitive information about this incident will be offered free credit monitoring services by the university.

Credit reports can be accessed in the following ways:

• Go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877-322-8228
• Go to Equifax.com or call 800-685-1111
• Go to Experian.com or call 888-397-3742
• Go to TransUnion.com or call 800-680-7289

Individuals can also call law enforcement as well as the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338 to report suspected identity theft. The Commission can also be reached online at ftc.gov/idtheft or by writing to the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

Interested parties seeking more information may contact the university’s dedicated call center at 1-888-998-7088 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

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