Tor Vergata: ransomware attack, no ransom

The ransomware attack on the IT infrastructure of the Tor Vergata University began on Friday evening. An action that knocked out about a hundred computers in the structure, blocking access to the systems by teachers and students, temporarily disabling the tools of distance learning and affecting a series of documents related to research on COVID-19.

The ransomware attack at the Tor Vergata University

Apparently no ransom has been requested at the moment nor is it known for sure what the stolen files, if any. Thus the rector Orazio Schillaci commented on the incident on the pages of Repubblica describing the countermeasures implemented by resorting to an external partner with experience in the field of cybersecurity.

For now no ransom has been requested and we do not yet know what exfiltrated, but we were immediately able to initiate countermeasures by limiting the damage and activating the restore from the backup, so as not to lose data, research and ensure the continuation of teaching.

Interested not only documents concerning coronavirus studies, but also other research projects in the medical and scientific fields. The Postal Police is working to shed some light on the matter.