Suspected Cyberattack Hits Columbia University, Disrupts Systems and Services
Columbia University is facing widespread system disruptions after what appears to be a cyberattack that brought down its internal network early Tuesday morning. The incident has affected key digital services used by students, faculty, and administrators, including login authentication, email, and the university’s online learning platform.
The outage was first reported around 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time by Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT) in a mass email to the campus community. The department described it as a “widespread system outage” and confirmed that both internal teams and the New York Police Department (NYPD) are investigating the situation.
A Columbia University spokesperson said the institution is aware of online claims from a group taking credit for the disruption. However, these claims have been officially discredited.
“We are aware of online posts from a group claiming responsibility for this outage,” the spokesperson told the Columbia Spectator, the university’s student-run publication. “At this time, there is no evidence supporting their claims.”
Critical Services Impacted, Including Email and Learning Platforms
As of Tuesday, the network outage was still affecting multiple Columbia services:
- UNI login authentication for student and faculty access
- LionMail, the university’s email system
- CourseWorks, the institution’s primary platform for assignments and class communication
Faculty were advised to carry class materials on USB drives, and students were instructed to stay logged into systems to preserve access during the disruption. CUIT has continued to provide real-time updates to the community as work progresses to restore full functionality.
Disruptions Come Amid Broader Political and Institutional Tensions
The cyber incident comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for Columbia. The university has been a focal point in recent political and social debates, particularly following months-long pro-Palestinian demonstrations that culminated in students occupying Hamilton Hall.
The U.S. government has also turned its attention toward the university. Following the protests, the Trump administration detained a protest organizer, Mahmoud Khalil, on charges related to incitement. Federal officials have since threatened to revoke $400 million in funding, citing concerns over Columbia’s handling of on-campus unrest and allegations of anti-Semitic rhetoric.
The NYPD has not released further information on the nature of the cyberattack or its potential perpetrators. Meanwhile, Columbia’s IT and legal teams continue to investigate and mitigate the fallout.
