Cyberattack Hits College of Eastern Idaho, No Data Breach Reported

The College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) has been hit by a cyberattack that forced the school to shut down its network systems last week. In a statement released on Monday, the college confirmed that malware had infected its network, but there is no evidence so far that student or staff data has been stolen.

CEI President Lori Barber said the school is working with cybersecurity experts to remove the malware and get systems back up and running. “Our top priority is the safety and security of our students, faculty, and institutional data,” Barber said.

According to the college, the attack began when a student used a personal laptop to visit an external website, which led to the malware entering the school’s network. As a precaution, CEI quickly shut down its systems to stop the spread.

While investigating the issue, CEI’s IT team discovered that the attack had escalated. The cybercriminal launched a Trojan horse attack—malicious software that can disguise itself as a normal file to gain access to systems.

CEI acted fast by keeping its systems offline to stop further damage and protect important data. The school says it has backup plans in place to make sure summer classes continue as scheduled.

Although there is no exact timeline yet for when everything will be back to normal, CEI says it remains focused on helping students and staff throughout this situation.