On the evening of August 14, University of Virginia students and personnel received an email informing them that earlier this summer, Chinese hackers illegally accessed portions of the University's information technology systems.
This cyber attack was confirmed on June 11, but it was not until last week that the University Community was notified of the attack. Which makes sense, because it's not like this information is something we may want to be updated about, considering many of us use UVA systems on a daily basis.
Close examination of the email was unsettling. When discussing whether any sensitive information was accessed, the underscores on either side of the "no" led some to believe it was a late addition to the email that made them question its validity.
It wouldn't be the first time that students' social security numbers were compromised. It was only two years ago that Aetna Student Health sent out information about health care options to 18,700 UVA students, but printed their social security numbers on the outside of the pamphlets.
The University upgraded their system security over the weekend, which meant that access to many University systems, including University email accounts, would not be possible for a couple of days. This left the average student, who emails their professors before the semester begins to preemptively ask them for an extension on the first paper, very frustrated.
Doesn't this hacking thing feel all too normal? Lest we forget another incident in 2013, when a hacking group named Root the Box took credit for hacking UVA's website and changing the homepage, leaving many to wonder if university administration had decided to completely change the school's logo and color scheme without notice.
The only real option UVA students have now is to stay off the grid. If nobody can find you, there's nothing to hack.
All of these cyber attacks really give new meaning to the name "HackCville," which is a student-run community and clubhouse for students interested in entrepreneurship.
