Howard University Closed After Ransomware Attack

WASHINGTON – Howard University, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious historically Black universities and the alma mater of Vice President Kamala Harris, was shut down Tuesday due to a ransomware attack.

The FBI and District of Columbia city government have been working with the university in regards to the attack, the university said. The university did not mention who conducted the attack or what they are asking for to release the university’s networks.

University officials said Howard’s Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) became aware Friday of a potential cyberattack. In response, ETS shutdown all of the university’s networks to further investigate.

On Monday, the university said, the computer and technology interruption were a ransomware attack. Consequently, all in-person and online classes were cancelled Tuesday, Howard’s Office of University Communications said.

“ETS and its partners have been working diligently to fully address this incident and restore operations as quickly as possible,” the Office of University Communications said in an email Monday.

The university will reopen Wednesday, but only in-person. Howard University’s wi-fi, however, will still be unavailable.