Posted On March 8, 2023 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
March 8, 2023 – Southeastern Louisiana University (“SLU”) informed Facebook users of a possible data leak on February 25, 2023. Various SLU services were unavailable as a result of what the school described as a “Temporary Network and System Disruption,” according to the school’s post. Although the specifics of the breach have not yet been verified, some have claimed that it was caused by a ransomware assault in accordance with current data breach notification laws. Regardless of whether the incident resulted in the leak of student or faculty data, SLU is required to notify everyone who was affected by the breach.
The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating the Southeastern Louisiana University data breach. We are providing free consultations where we can go over your legal options for getting compensation from SLU if you have received a breach notice and are curious about the dangers of identity theft and what you can do to protect yourself.
Southeastern Louisiana, a public institution in Hammond, Louisiana, is one of the top 50 public schools and top 100 universities in the south, providing more than 150 areas of study. Established in 1925, SLU now has more than 14,000 students enrolled and employs about 600 teachers. Southeastern Louisiana University employs over 1,760 individuals, bringing in about $121 million annually.
The breach at Southeastern Louisiana University is the subject of several press reports as well as the school’s Facebook post. According to these sources, Southeastern’s computer-based systems, such as Moodle and email, may stay inaccessible through the weekend due to the ongoing service disruption and system maintenance. SLU posted this information on Facebook on February 25, 2023. The school did not go into detail about the incident’s specifics, though. The incident was later identified as a ransomware attack by several news outlets, though SLU has not yet verified this.
Although SLU has not yet verified it, it is possible that the recent “Network and System Disruption” may have exposed student or faculty information. If this is the case, SLU is required to send a letter notifying those impacted by the data breach. SLU has not, however, published a “Notice of Data Breach” on its website as of March 6, 2023.
A ransomware attack is a cyberattack in which hackers infect a company’s computer network with malicious software. Malware is a type of computer program that encrypts data and prevents a business from accessing its own network. Files are encrypted when they are encoded to make them inaccessible to those without the tools to decrypt them.
The “ransom” element is introduced when the hackers leave a note requesting payment from the business in exchange for access to the files. The files will be decrypted, and the attack will stop if the fee is made.
But lately, attacks from hackers have increased in malice. Much of the motivation to pay the ransom is lost if a business has backup copies of its files. So, hackers have started using a method known as “double extortion.” If the business doesn’t pay, they threaten to publish them on the dark web, where anyone can access the data and use it for fraud and identity theft.
Attacks from ransomware can be avoided if data security systems are kept up to speed and properly maintained. Hackers take advantage of outdated technology by looking for and taking advantage of flaws. Companies can identify and stop assaults before they happen using modern technology.
The consumer privacy lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. help customers affected by data and security breaches pursue legal solutions by offering free consultations. By explaining your rights in clear, concise terms, we help you make an informed decision about your next steps. If you are a victim of the Southeastern Louisiana University data breach, Console & Associates, P.C. will investigate at no charge to you and offer advice on how to proceed. If you decide to pursue a case, rest assured that we don’t get paid unless you do. If your claim is successful, legal fees are either paid out of the funds recovered or by the defendant. If your claim is not successful, you pay nothing.
To schedule your free consultation, just call (866) 778-5500 today or fill out our secure contact form.
