Howard University Is Temporarily Closed Due To Ransomware Attack

Howard University, where US Vice President Kemala Harris studied. (photo; howard university)

JAKARTA – Howard University, one of the largest and most prestigious black universities in the US, was closed on Tuesday, September 6 due to a ransomware attack. The former campus and alma mater of US Vice President Kamala Harris suffered a sizeable attack.

According to the university, the FBI and the District of Columbia city government have been cooperating with the university regarding the attack. The university did not say who carried out the attack or what they were asking to release the university network.

University officials said Howard's Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) became aware on Friday of the potential cyberattack. In response, ETS closed all university networks to investigate further.

On Monday, September 5, the university said the computer and technology disruption was a ransomware attack. As a result, all face-to-face and online classes were canceled on Tuesday, the Howard University Office of Communications said.

"ETS and its partners have been working closely to address this incident and restore operations as quickly as possible", the University's Office of Communications said in an email Monday.

The university will reopen on Wednesday, but only in person. Howard University's Wi-Fi, however, will remain unavailable, aka turned off.