Whitman Hanson School Breach

Whitworth University is a Christian university located in Spokane, Washington. The school has only about 3,000 students because it is a private university.

What Was the Breach?

Ransomware is easily one of the most media-represented forms of hacking, and it makes notable ‘appearances’ on NCIS, 9-1-1, The Rookie, and MacGyver. While television often blows such things out of proportion, it is a dangerous threat facing many large companies.

How Did the Breach Occur?

The ransomware attack left the school’s systems in shambles for months afterward. Whitworth worked with the FBI, who advised the school not to pay the ransom. With ransomware, there is never any surety that the hacker or hackers will return the data, and the ransom being paid encourages the hackers to do it again for something – or someone – else.

When Did This Breach Occur?

This breach occurred on July 29th, 2022.

Who Does the Breach Impact?

The breach impacts the students of the school. This seems to include former students, as the Washington list of victims is higher than the school’s student count.

How Many Files Does the Breach Affect?

Whitworth’s investigation has not yet seen how many people were affected by the breach. However, the university did find that approximately 5,100 Washington State residents were affected. Washington State has a 30-day deadline by which Washingtonians must be alerted to their involvement in a data breach. As such, the investigation is incomplete and doesn’t offer a complete list of victims.