Education at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) will also be at a standstill on Tuesday. Cybersecurity experts from the university will certainly need an extra day to make the TU/e network safe and available again. The university board reported this on Monday afternoon. The TU/e says it is developing “different scenarios” for the lectures. The exam period for students starts next week.
The university’s network was taken offline on Sunday because it was the target of a cyber attack. The university did this to ‘prevent worse outcomes’. TU/e is quick to announce that they ‘have no indication that data has been stolen, but the investigation is still ongoing’. There is also no contact with the hackers and it is still unknown who the hackers are.
Resilience
Patrick Groothuis, vice-chairman of TU/e: “We are working systematically with all our might to make the TU/e network safe again and ultimately to bring it back online step by step with the greatest care. The education systems have the highest priority. We understand this has a major impact on everyone in our community. We are touched by the resilience of students and employees and by all the expressions of support and help offered.”
The TU/e has set up a questions desk, which can be reached via WhatsApp. The questions desk is intended for both employees and students. Furthermore, the student desk in MetaForum, where the university library is located, is open for questions.
Uncertainties
Groothuis: “We are currently developing various scenarios for education, also with a view to the exam period that starts next week. We are working on mapping all matters related to education and students. This concerns, for example, handing in assignments and giving graduation presentations. We understand the tensions and uncertainties among both our staff and our students.”
Scientific research
In addition to education, scientific research is also seriously affected by the cyber attack. Research that can be done outside the network will continue. According to TU/e, all labs and facilities are ‘functional and safe’. Promotions can also continue.
Whether the network will be fully restored on Tuesday remains uncertain. The Technical University expects to be able to provide a new update about the rest of the week on Tuesday afternoon at four o’clock.
It is very quiet on the TU/e grounds this Monday. Most students have chosen not to come to campus and about half the usual number of staff are present.
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