Feng Chia University yesterday said that it had been attacked by the NOVA ransomware group, but measures were taken to prevent further damage.
The private university in Taichung, said in a statement that it received outside intelligence on Tuesday indicating that it was targeted by the NOVA ransomware group.
It immediately responded by launching an investigation and enlisting outside experts to assist with the inquiry, Feng Chia University said, adding that after nearly 24 hours, it felt it had confirmed the cause and scope of the damage.
Photo: CNA
Although measures were taken to prevent further damage, many details have yet to be clarified, the university said.
However, media reports that employee data and student payment records were breached were inaccurate, it said.
The university urged the public not to speculate, so as not to interfere with the investigation.
Media reports have said that NOVA recently attacked Feng Chia University and Sun Moon University in South Korea.
NOVA unusually specified on the dark Web that the attack on Feng Chia University was carried out by “Chinese APTNova Affiliates,” raising concerns that the hackers might be backed by a nation-state, the reports said.
NOVA claimed to have obtained 10GB of data after infiltrating Feng Chia University, including source code, employee information, student payment records and database structures, the reports said.
The group has threatened to publicly release some of the data within 10 days if the university fails to respond to NOVA’s demands, the reports said.
