University of Western Australia Hit by Major Data Breach, Staff and Students Temporarily Locked Out

The University of Western Australia (UWA), one of the country's leading universities, has experienced a significant data breach that exposed the password information of thousands of staff and students.

UWA confirmed on Saturday night that it was investigating a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorised access to password data. In response, the university temporarily locked users out of its systems and urged all staff and students to update their passwords immediately.

Fiona Bishop, UWA's Chief Information Officer, said a critical incident management team was swiftly activated to implement countermeasures. "Our IT and support teams worked tirelessly throughout Saturday night and over the weekend to secure the system and reset all passwords for students, staff, and visitors," she said.

While there is no evidence that any other information besides passwords was accessed, the investigation is ongoing. Bishop likened the situation to "following footprints in the sand," indicating that the university has moved into recovery and further investigation stages.

She praised the rapid response of the university's IT and digital security experts, adding that efforts are underway to restore full access. To support students during this disruption, the university has granted a three-day extension for student assessments.

At this stage, UWA has received no communication from any suspected perpetrators, and there is no indication that ransomware was involved.

Bishop emphasized that as universities become more digital and modern, they face growing cybersecurity threats. "The university sector is a constant target for cyber attacks," she said.

Despite the breach, teaching and classes are expected to continue without interruption. Bishop noted, "We anticipate ongoing support will be needed to help users reset passwords, and we will maintain these efforts over the coming days."