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Elite universities such as Harvard, Princeton and Columbia spend fortunes on research, talent and digital infrastructure. Even so, they have become easy targets for attackers who view huge databases filled with personal information and donation records as a gold mine. Over the past few months, hacks on Ivy League campuses have exposed the same problem. These institutions process enormous volumes of sensitive data, but their internal security often doesn't keep up with the scale of what they store. This pattern brings us to The newest incident at Harvard which provided hackers with a database of alumni, sponsors, some students and teachers.
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CHECK IF YOUR PASSWORDS WERE STOLE IN A HUGE LEAK
Elite universities store vast amounts of personal and financial data, making them irresistible targets for attackers. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Phone phishing attack unblocks Harvard data
Harvard confirmed that a database associated with alumni, donors, faculty and some students was accessed by an unauthorized party. This happened after a phone phishing attack tricked someone into gaining access to the system.
“On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Harvard University discovered that information systems used by the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development were accessed by an unauthorized party as a result of a telephone phishing attack,” the university said in a notice posted on its website. “The university has taken immediate action to deny the attackers access to our systems and prevent further unauthorized access.”
Public data includes personal contact information, donation history and other records related to the university's fundraising activities and alumni. For Harvard, a school that regularly raises more than a billion dollars a year, the database is one of its most valuable assets, making the hack even more serious.
This is also the second time Harvard has had to investigate a violation in recent months. In October, the company investigated reports that its data was involved in a broader hacking campaign targeting Oracle customers. This previous warning has already shown that the school is considered high risk. The latest violation only confirms this.
FRAUDERS ARE NOW IMPORTANT AS COLLEAGUES, STEALING EMAILS TO CONVINCE PHISHING ATTACKS
The latest Harvard hack began with a phone phishing scam that allowed the attacker to gain access to key alumni and donor databases. (Jens Buettner/Photo Alliance via Getty Images)
Ivy League schools face growing crisis
Harvard is not alone here. Ivy League campuses saw wave of incidents these lines line up almost in a row. On November 15, Princeton reported that one of its databases associated with alumni, donors, students and community members had been compromised.
On October 31, the University of Pennsylvania said that information systems related to its development and alumni activities were accessed without permission. Colombia faced even more serious consequences. The hack, which occurred in June, exposed the personal information of about 870,000 people, including students and applicants.
These attacks show that universities have become predictable targets. They store identities, addresses, financial records and donor information. They also rely on extensive IT systems where a single mistake, weak password or persuasive phone call can create an entry point.
Hackers know this and strike repeatedly. The recent cluster of Ivy League breaches suggests that attackers are mapping these environments, looking for common weaknesses that appear again and again.
NEW EMAIL SCAM USES HIDDEN SYMBOLS TO PASS FILTERS
A spate of incidents on Ivy League campuses shows that hackers are exploiting the same vulnerabilities over and over again. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
7 steps you can take to protect yourself from such data breaches
You can't prevent a university or company from being hacked, but you can be sure that your own information will be more difficult to exploit. These steps will help you reduce the consequences if your data falls into the wrong hands.
1) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
Using 2FA gives your accounts an extra layer of security. Even if someone steals your password through a hack, they will still need the OTP from your phone or app to authenticate. It blocks most random attempts and makes attackers work much harder.
2) Use a password manager
A password manager creates and stores strong and unique passwords for every site you use. This prevents one cracked password from unlocking everything else. It also eliminates the need to remember dozens of logins, so you don't have to cut corners.
Next, check if you have email has been compromised in past violations. Our #1 best password manager includes a built-in breach scanner that checks to see if your email address or passwords have appeared in known breaches. If you find a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
Check out the best password managers of 2025, reviewed by experts, at Cyberguy.com
3) Reduce the amount of personal information floating around.
You can request removal from data broker sites, delete old accounts, and reduce what you share publicly. When your information is not scattered all over the Internet, it is much more difficult for attackers to recover your identity.
While no service can guarantee complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is indeed a smart choice. They don't come cheap, and neither does your privacy. These services do all the work for you, actively monitoring and systematically removing your personal information from hundreds of websites. This is what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk that scammers will link leaked data to information they can find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top data removal services and get a free scan to see if your personal information has already been published online by visiting Cyberguy.com
Get a free scan to see if your personal information has already been published online: Cyberguy.com
4) Be careful with emails, text messages and calls.
Phishing doesn't always appear as an obvious scam. Attackers spoof institutions, copy their tone, and force you to quickly share details. Slow down, check the message through the official website or hotline, and then make a decision.
The best way to protect yourself from malicious links is to install powerful antivirus software on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for 2025's top antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
5) Keep your devices updated.
Many attackers rely on old flaws in operating systems, browsers and applications. Regular updates patch these holes and block the most common attack paths. If you're someone who delays updates, turning on automatic updates will help.
6) Share your online identity
Use alias email addresses for banking, education, shopping and newsletters. If one of them is exposed, attackers won't automatically be given a map of your entire digital life. This makes targeted fraud much more difficult and also prevents attackers from stealing your identity. By creating email aliases, you can protect your information and reduce spam. These aliases redirect messages to your primary address, making it easier to manage incoming messages and avoid data leaks.
For recommendations on private and secure email providers offering aliases, see Cyberguy.com
7) Use an identity theft protection service.
You may also want to consider using an identity theft protection service to be on the safe side. Identity theft companies can track personal information such as your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is sold on the dark web or used to open an account. They can also help you freeze your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
Check out my tips and best practices on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com
Kurt's Key Takeaway
Harvard's latest hack joins a growing list of cyberattacks that show just how vulnerable top universities have become. Even the best-funded institutions cannot keep up with today's threats. When a simple phone phishing call can open the door to sensitive data associated with donors, alumni and students, it becomes clear that these campuses need stronger security and more active monitoring. Until that happens, you can expect more headlines like this and more investigations after the damage has been done.
Do you trust universities to protect the personal information you share with them? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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