TROY – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is dealing with a malware attack that has shut down much of its computer network impacting the university’s students as they go into finals for the spring semester.
“Rensselaer is investigating a trespass into our University network,” a message sent out to the RPI community Friday night stated, which was provided to the Times Union Saturday.
RPI has called on law enforcement to help it deal with the situation as the end of the semester approaches.
“We have temporarily suspended access to the network as we work with law enforcement and cyber security experts to determine the extent of the trespass,” the statement says.
Visiting the RPI website at RPI.edu finds the most recent posting to be Thursday May 6 on the homepage.
The world-renowned engineering school’s email system appears to be down with members of the RPI student body, staff and faculty unable to receive communications this way. The Student Information System which provides students with access to courses, catalogs and other information also is offline. Calling up any of the SIS pages results in the response, “This site can’t be reached.”
RPI advises students that steps are being taking to assist those who are scheduled for final exams being offered online.
“Accommodations will be provided to any student with online exams impacted by the suspended access to the network. Those affected will receive specific information from the Office of the Provost and/or the Academic Deans,” RPI advised students.
On the Reddit RPI page one person who identified himself as a faculty member spoke about the situation.
“The RPI faculty have been given no information about this cyberattack beyond that curious unsigned announcement yesterday. We don’t know what happened, how serious the damage was, what is being done, and when we might be back online. We also do not know if this is a widespread problem or unique to RPI,” the comment said.
Reddit often draws RPI students commenting about situations on campus. There is a string of comments and speculations as they attempt to figure out what’s happening and describe how some faculty members are setting up alternative forms of contact.