The Campus Shut Down
A suspected ransomware attack knocked about 500 servers offline at Osaka Metropolitan University, forcing one of Japan's largest schools to cancel classes.
Key terms
AP Cybersecurity alignment
- 2.1.C.6In the taking-action phase of an attack, adversaries act on their objectives by collecting targeted data, exfiltrating it, and disrupting services or destroying data.Learning objective: Describe the phases of a cyberattack.
- 4.1.D.1Risk from device vulnerabilities can come from unauthorized access or malware that allow an adversary to impersonate an authorized user, remotely control a device, encrypt a device’s drive to ransom the data, or wipe a…Learning objective: Assess and document risks from device vulnerabilities.
- 5.1.C.1Data security risks can involve a compromise of confidentiality when unauthorized persons can access sensitive data, integrity when data can be manipulated or altered from its intended state, and availability when data can be…Learning objective: Assess and document risks from application and data vulnerabilities.
AP Networking alignment
- 4.1.A.3When confidentiality is compromised, systems are vulnerable to having sensitive data exposed or stolen. A breach of confidentiality can be identified by: • unauthorized access • network traffic showing exfiltration of…Learning objective: Identify evidence of compromised confidentiality, integrity, or availability.
- 4.1.A.5When availability is compromised, systems have unexpected periods of time when they are out of service. A breach of availability can be identified by: • an inability to access systems, networks, or resources • slow or dropped…Learning objective: Identify evidence of compromised confidentiality, integrity, or availability.
- 4.1.B.1Network connectivity supports essential tasks such as communication, data access, and service delivery. When connectivity is unreliable, users or employees may lose access to essential systems, which can lead to delays,…Learning objective: Explain how unreliable connectivity impacts organizations.