Columbia University Data Breach Impacts 870,000 People With Personal, Academic, and Financial Details Exposed

Columbia University has confirmed a major data breach affecting approximately 870,000 individuals, including current and former students as well as applicants. The compromised information includes contact details, demographic data, academic records, financial aid information, and insurance and health-related data. In some cases, sensitive details such as banking numbers, grade-point averages, and class schedules were exposed.

The breach dates back to around May 16, weeks before a significant IT outage in June that disrupted many of the university’s systems. According to reports submitted to state attorneys general in Maine and California, the investigation is ongoing, and the university continues to notify those affected as more details emerge.

Officials have indicated that the incident may have been the work of a politically motivated hacktivist. Columbia has since implemented enhanced security measures and is evaluating additional safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future. The attack also reportedly impacted employee information, though this was not specified in the most recent letters sent to affected parties.

State laws in both Maine and California require prompt reporting of breaches affecting residents, underscoring the legal obligations organizations face when safeguarding sensitive data. Columbia’s case highlights the far-reaching impact cyberattacks can have on academic institutions, exposing vulnerabilities that extend beyond the classroom.