What You Need to Know about the Harvard University Data Breach

Harvard University is the oldest college in the American colonies and one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. It has over 400,000 alumni worldwide and about 20,665 faculty and staff across more than 20 locations globally.

The university recently disclosed a data breach in its Alumni Affairs and Development system (AAD) that contained information about people and groups associated with the institution. This security incident reportedly affected the personal information of alumni, parents, staff, students, and others, including spouses of alumni and university donors. 

Harvard University stated that the exposed data includes phone numbers, event participation history, email addresses, mailing addresses, donation details, and other personal profile information. However,  the university clarified that no sensitive information such as passwords, financial account numbers, Social Security numbers (SSNs), or payment card information was compromised, as the database did not store such data. 

After discovering the breach, the university said it promptly blocked the attacker’s access to the AAD to prevent further unauthorized access and launched a joint investigation with law enforcement and third-party cybersecurity experts. The university has not yet disclosed the number of individuals whose personal information may have been compromised in the incident but promised to share additional details as the investigation progresses. 

When Was the Harvard University Data Breach?

Harvard University discovered the data breach on November 18, 2025. This came on the heels of a disclosure in October that the institution was likely breached by the Clop ransomware gang using a zero-day in the university’s Oracle E-Business Suite servers. An authorized party had employed a phone-based phishing attack to access information systems used by the Alumni Affairs and Development. 

On November 22, 2025, the university sent email notifications to potentially affected individuals whose email addresses are in the compromised systems to keep them alert for any unusual communications purportedly from the school. Harvard said it will assess if specific notifications to the people impacted are needed as the investigation into the incident continues.

How to Check If Your Data Was Breached

Harvard has yet to decide whether to send specific notifications to affiliates whose data was compromised. However, if you have received suspicious communications claiming to be from the institution requesting password resets or sensitive information during this period, it may be an indication that your data was breached. Such communications could be messages or emails.

Furthermore, to check whether your data was compromised in the recent Harvard data breach, search reliable breach-check websites or tools with your email address. These tools typically disclose where data was leaked on the dark web and if yours has appeared in recent data dumps. Some of these websites allow you to set up a profile to monitor the dark web and notify you whenever your information appears in breaches.

Alternatively, check your bank statements and credit reports closely for unusual debits or activity. If you find any and your email address is maintained in the Alumni Affairs and Development system, your data may have been compromised even though Harvard says no financial information was exposed. You may also stay abreast of the incident by monitoring the school’s incident information on the breach for relevant updates and any additional information.   

What to Do If Your Data Was Breached

If the Harvard University data breach exposed your data, you need to be on alert for any unusual communications, particularly emails and text messages that appear to be from the school requesting sensitive information. Such communications may contain suspicious links, which, if opened, can feed phishing and impersonation.

Additionally, be cautious of unexpected calls asking you to reset your password, even if they appear to be from trusted partners or colleagues. If something seems off, verify such unusual requests by email or through other contact information listed on the school’s official website. You should also check your online accounts to ascertain there has been no unauthorized activity, including changes to security settings and inability to log into your accounts..

If your data was breached in the Harvard University cyber incident, you may also consider ordering credit reports to check for unusual activity, including accounts you do not recognize in the reports. Similarly, request your bank statements and closely review them for strange or unusual entries. If you find any, report the details promptly to the bank and credit card company.

Placing a credit freeze on your credit file can also help, as it will make it difficult for anyone to open new accounts in your name. Even if identity thieves can access all your personal information, they cannot open any new credit accounts under your name as long as your credit remains frozen.

Are There Any Lawsuits Because of the Data Breach?

No lawsuit has been filed against Harvard University yet, but several law firms are already investigating claims against the institution and considering legal action on behalf of those impacted. These law firms claim that the institution failed to adequately secure its Alumni Affairs and Development system, which possibly exposed sensitive data for countless people. 

Can My Harvard University Information Be Used for Identity Theft?

Yes. You may be vulnerable to identity theft if your Harvard University information was compromised by the recent data incident. Stolen data, such as email addresses, can facilitate various fraudulent activities, including impersonating you to apply for credit cards and loans or tricking your family and friends into revealing personal information. Combined with your mailing address, a scammer can build a comprehensive profile to access other services in your name in addition to obtaining loans or opening new credit cards in your name.

Although an email address is considered less sensitive, scammers can use it to intercept more sensitive information from you to commit identity fraud. You may suddenly start receiving emails containing suspicious links aimed at collecting more sensitive data to further steal your identity. Furthermore, an identity thief can use a leaked mailing address to redirect your mail to a new address, which would enable them to receive sensitive mail, including bank statements and credit card statements.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself Online?

Despite Harvard University’s commitment to data privacy and security, an unauthorized party gained access to its Alumni Affairs and Development systems, compromising certain data. This highlights the importance of remaining vigilant and protecting sensitive personal information online.

With data breaches increasingly common, consider the following security measures to protect yourself online:

• Use a strong and separate password for your email account. Do not use the same password for your email and other online accounts. This prevents cybercriminals from accessing your email if they obtain the password for a less important online account.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible to keep cybercriminals out of your online accounts. Even if anyone knows your password, MFA requires a code or PIN sent to you by email or SMS, verifying your identity before granting access.
• Install security updates for your device’s software and apps as soon as they are released to protect against malware.
• Set strong, hard-to-guess passwords for your online accounts. A strong password should include a mix of numbers, lowercase and uppercase letters, and special characters and be at least eight characters long. Never write your password in plain sight or leave it near your device.
• Keep personal information away from the public as much as possible, especially away from social media profiles. Cybercriminals often figure out passwords and answers to security questions in the password reset tools using personal information shared on social media accounts.
• Monitor your financial accounts, including your credit file, by enrolling in a credit monitoring service. This can help you detect identity theft early.
• Avoid sharing personal or sensitive information over public Wi-Fi networks if you must use one. Additionally, always protect your home wireless network with a strong, encrypted password.
• Keep educating yourself about trending online scams and how to stay safe through IDStrong.
• Be cautious with unsolicited text messages and emails that appear to be from legitimate institutions or companies. Pause before engaging them. Avoid clicking on malicious links or suspicious attachments or sharing personal information through them. Hints like spelling errors, time-sensitive requests for information, and unfamiliar greetings are common indicators of phishing scams.
• Be cautious not to share your location online on public websites or with strangers by disabling geolocation services on your device. Consider deleting apps that would not allow you to turn them off.
• Report actual or suspected online fraud or identity theft to the  Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or local law enforcement.