Update on cyber attack: no education on Tuesday

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Our cybersecurity experts are working very hard to make TU/e’s network secure and available again as soon as possible. This work will not be completed today and therefore no education will be possible tomorrow.

Patrick Groothuis, Vice President of TU/e: "We are working methodically with all’our might to get the TU/e’s network back secure and eventually bring it back online, step by step, with the utmost care. The education systems have the highest priority in this regard. We understand that this has a major impact on everyone in our community. We are touched by the resilience of students and staff and by all the messages of support and help offered."

Tomorrow at 16:00 we will provide another update here on the website looking ahead to Wednesday.

In the meantime we have set up a helpdesk, which can be reached via Whatsapp, at the number below. The question desk is intended for both employees and students. Furthermore, the student desk in MetaForum floor 1 is open for questions.

We are currently working out different scenarios for education, also in view of the exam period starting next week. We are mapping out all teachingand student-related issues, e.g. handing in assignments and giving graduation presentations. We understand the tensions and uncertainties among both our staff and our students and will make our considerations with the utmost care.

Non-network-related research at TU/e can continue; all labs and facilities are functional and safe. PhD defenses can also take place.

So far, we have no indication that data have been stolen, but the investigation is still ongoing. There is no contact with the hackers and it is still unknown who they are.

It is very quiet at TU/e today, most students have chosen not to come to campus and approximately half of the regular amount of employees are on campus.

Network TU/e is shut down, no education on Monday (article of 12 January 2025)

TU/e has shut down its network today (Sunday 12 January) due to a cyber-attack. As a result, TU/e’s network-bound systems are or will become inaccessible for users for the time being and there will be no lectures and other educational activities, at least up to and including Monday. We will keep everyone informed of the developments via this web page and try to answer questions that may arise.

We advise everyone to consider for themselves whether it has added value to come to campus, whether or not in coordination with your supervisor or manager. The buildings and the campus will remain accessible. Students and employees can come to campus, but they cannot use network-bound facilities, such as e-mail, Wi-Fi, Canvas and Teams.

Patrick Groothuis, vice-president: "We realize that switching off the network has serious consequences, for our students, employees, but also for other parties on campus. This necessary intervention was done to prevent worse outcomes. We therefore hope for understanding, and we are doing our utmost to resolve this and have all systems accessible as soon as possible."

Our ICT experts still have access to all systems. They are currently investigating the nature and extent of the cyber-attack and are trying to get the network operational again as soon as possible. We work as carefully as possible. As a result, we expect to have the systems accessible again at the earliest by Tuesday. We will keep you updated on developments here. Monday at 16:00 we will let you know here what the situation will be on Tuesday.

At TU/e, next week is the last teaching week of quartile two, during which there will be limited teaching, such as catch-up activities and preparation for exams in the following weeks.

Update 12-01-2025 19:00

Our ICT staff caught sight of the attack around 21:00 last night. We cannot yet say much about the exact nature given the investigation, but it had all the hallmarks of a cyber attack given the suspicious activity on our servers. During the night we therefore shut down the network. There is no sign yet that data has been stolen, we are still investigating that.

We further urge everyone to be extra alert to phishing emails that may take advantage of the TU/e situation, and not to click on links from unknown senders or that ask to log into an environment.

Update questions and answers 12-01-2025 19:30

Are the barriers open?

The parking system is not working, but the barriers will remain open while the situation lasts. So the campus will remain accessible.

Is the emergency number working?

The internal telephone system is not working. The TU/e emergency number (0402472222) does work, if you call from outside, for example via your mobile phone.

Are the canteens open, do the coffee machines work?

The cash registers of the canteens are not working and therefore the canteens will be closed on Monday, except for the canteens in building Atlas. For those locations, we will arrange a solution for payments. The coffee machines on campus are basically working.