**Italian University La Sapienza Hit by Ransomware Attack, Students Left in the Dark**
Ugh, this is a nightmare come true for the over 120,000 students at La Sapienza University in Rome, Italy. The school’s computer systems have been down since a ransomware attack, leaving students and faculty scrambling to figure out what’s going on.
As of today, it’s been three days since the attack, and things are still chaotic. La Sapienza took down their systems as a precaution while they investigate, and it seems like they’re trying to restore digital services like email and workstations, but it’s not looking good. For now, they’re operating with partial restrictions, which isn’t exactly what students want to hear.
So, what’s going on? Well, according to Italian news outlet Il Corriere della Sera, the attack was a ransomware assault, with hackers sending a link to a ransom demand with a 72-hour countdown. But, as of now, La Sapienza hasn’t confirmed this info, so we’ll have to wait and see.
**Meet Femwar02, a New Player in the Cyber Attack Scene**
Il Corriere also reported that the hacking group behind the attack is called Femwar02, a group that’s been flying under the radar until now. They allegedly used the BabLock malware, also known as Rorschach, which was discovered back in 2023. Not much is known about this group yet, but we’re keeping an eye on it.
**Business as Usual (Sort Of)**
Despite the chaos, La Sapienza is reassuring students that exams will continue as usual. If you’re a student who needs to take an exam, make sure to touch base with your prof ASAP. The university has also set up info points on campus to help students and staff get the support they need.
This attack is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of universities to cyber attacks. Just last year, the infamous ShinyHunters group hacked Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, stealing data without using malware.
If you have any info about this attack or the Femwar02 gang, feel free to share in the comments below. We’re all ears.
**Sources:**
* La Sapienza University (Instagram)
* Il Corriere della Sera
* Group-IB (BabLock malware)
* Check Point (Rorschach)
* TechCrunch (original article)
**Update:** Still waiting to hear back from La Sapienza. Their email address is… well, let’s just say it’s not accepting new messages at the moment.
