Nearly a week after a cyberattack crashed some of its online services, Mount Royal University (MRU) is still working to resolve its effects, though a faculty member said they are working around those challenges. On June 17, what is believed to be an external cyberattack affected the university’s website, mtroyal.ca, its online campus internet access, MyMRU, and other services like telephone links.
New Wireless Network Deployed
On Friday, MRU officials said a new public wireless internet network had been made available to temporarily provide access “while restoration efforts continue.” City police are investigating the incident, said the university. Justice studies professor Doug King said he is able to communicate with students through email, adding the university is doing a good job keeping those impacted by the cyberattack updated on developments.
“I’ve been impressed with how MRU has kept faculty, staff and students informed,” said King, adding he is able to use some learning platforms like D2L. The university said it is calling on external cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and help with its response, something King said “will cost a pretty penny.”
No Timeline for Full Recovery
MRU would not say on Tuesday when they expect their system to return to normal or if the attack is an instance of ransomware, where money is demanded in return for some kind of online relief. “I don’t think they want to set up any false hope,” said King, referring to the timeline. The university declined to comment further and referred a reporter to a webpage offering regular updates, the most recent one as of early Tuesday afternoon being from the previous day. That page includes links to information on student services, such as financial aid and registration, as well as contact information on alternative methods to access programs.
Starting last weekend, King said those with MRU-issued laptops were asked to bring them in to undergo servicing in response to the attack. “We were told it’s very urgent you bring it in,” he said. What has been more impacted than learning, he said, are the scheduling of courses, fall registration and the payroll system, though the educator said he was paid last week. “We’ve lost about a week but it’s okay if we extend final exams (next month) by a week, so right now, it’s not a big deal,” said King.
Student Concerns Over Privacy
The attack has caused widespread anxiety among students over possible privacy breaches, said Liv Lopez, vice-president of student affairs with the Students’ Association of MRU. “We don’t have a lot of insight into what is or what could be vulnerable, what personal information is out there and what could be secured,” she said.
