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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Lancaster University students' data stolen by cyber-thieves | Lancaster University students' data stolen by cyber-thieves |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Students' personal data has been stolen in a "sophisticated and malicious" phishing attack at Lancaster University. | Students' personal data has been stolen in a "sophisticated and malicious" phishing attack at Lancaster University. |
| Officials said the information had been used to send bogus invoices to applicants. | Officials said the information had been used to send bogus invoices to applicants. |
| "A very small number" of student records, phone numbers and ID documents were also accessed, it said. | "A very small number" of student records, phone numbers and ID documents were also accessed, it said. |
| The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the university had suffered a "compromise of its systems". | |
| In a statement, the university said it became aware of a breach on Friday and has been working to secure its systems. | In a statement, the university said it became aware of a breach on Friday and has been working to secure its systems. |
| It said the data included names, addresses, phone numbers and emails, linked to students who had applied to join the university in 2019 and 2020. | It said the data included names, addresses, phone numbers and emails, linked to students who had applied to join the university in 2019 and 2020. |
| "We are aware that fraudulent invoices are being sent to some undergraduate applicants," it said. | "We are aware that fraudulent invoices are being sent to some undergraduate applicants," it said. |
| "At the present time, we know of a very small number of students who have had their record and ID documents accessed." | "At the present time, we know of a very small number of students who have had their record and ID documents accessed." |
| It said the affected students would be contacted with advice. | It said the affected students would be contacted with advice. |
| Phishing involves attempts to trick web users into handing over sensitive information. | Phishing involves attempts to trick web users into handing over sensitive information. |
| An NCA spokesman said: "A criminal investigation led by the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit is now under way, and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage." | |
| A spokesman for the Information Commissioner's Office said it had received a report from the university and would assess the information provided. | |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Have you been affected? Contact us at: northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected? Contact us at: northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk |