Penn Probes Security Breach After Mass Emails Sent from University Accounts

On Friday, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) faced a significant security breach that resulted in a cascade of mass emails sent from accounts affiliated with the Graduate School of Education (GSE). These emails, which reached students, faculty, alumni, and parents, included offensive language and critical commentary regarding the university’s security measures.

Penn’s Reaction to the Security Breach

In response to the breach, Penn’s Information Systems & Computing department confirmed it is actively collaborating with campus partners to address the issue. A university spokesperson denounced the emails as “obviously a fake” and reiterated the commitment of the Office of Information Security to resolve the situation promptly.

Details of the Offensive Emails

• The emails criticized Penn for its admissions practices, including the hiring of individuals labeled as “morons.”
• Messages contained profanity and racial slurs, leading to widespread dismay within the community.
• They were notable for being sent from multiple University email addresses, raising concerns about cybersecurity.

Elizabeth Cooper, the IT help desk manager at the Annenberg School for Communication, clarified that the emails were not a result of a direct hack and that they were likely sent through an email list accessed by malicious individuals. She confirmed that recipients included individuals outside of the university.

University’s Measures and Community Response

Both Penn Medicine Academic Computing Services and the School of Nursing echoed the urgency of the situation. They advised recipients to mark the emails as phishing or spam and avoid interacting with any links included in them.

Communications to the Penn Community

In messages sent to various departments, administrators emphasized the seriousness of the issue. Acknowledgments included the commitment to investigate the breach thoroughly and minimize further disruptions. The university expressed regret over the distress caused by the emails.

Penn’s efforts to combat the fallout from this incident are ongoing, as the community awaits updates on the investigation’s progress and future preventative measures.