Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ACCESS BETWEEN THE internet and NUI Galway’s campus network has been disabled after an attempted cyber attack on its IT systems.
The university said there is no evidence at this stage that any data was compromised, but that the incident is being monitored and investigated.
The measure impacts access to the internet for both students and staff studying and working on campus.
In a statement, a spokesperson confirmed: “NUI Galway has been subject to an attempted cyber attack on the university’s IT systems.”
“Our IT, cyber security and data protection specialists are monitoring and investigating the incident closely. At this point there is no evidence of any data being compromised,” the spokesperson said.
“As a precautionary measure, the university has disabled access between the campus network and the wider internet, impacting all users, including students and staff.
“We are working to restore normal access as soon as is possible. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
The university has cancelled several events that were scheduled to take place due to the disruption, including a support session on using campus accounts, Blackboard (a platform used for sharing course material), and student emails, and an online talk about part-time jobs.
In an email from the university, students were told that the incident had led to “significant disruption to connectivity between the campus network and the wider internet”.
“Access to university cloud-based platforms including email, MS Teams and Zoom remains possible from off-campus locations,” the email said.
“If you are on campus, you can access these services from a mobile phone if you turn off its WiFi connection. Access to some services including Blackboard is not currently available from any location.”
Last year, NUI Galway was one of more than 20 institutions globally affected by hackers targeting Blackbaud, a cloud provider used by some third-level institutions to store information.
The university said that names, phone numbers and emails of alumni in its database may have been obtained in the hack.
Blackbaud paid a ransom to the attacker, which said that the copy of the data it removed from NUI Galway’s system had been destroyed.
In April, IT services were disrupted at Technological University Dublin and the National College of Ireland when they were hit by ransomware attacks.
TU Dublin’s Tallaght campus experienced a “significant” ransomware attack, sparking a garda investigation, but said there was no indication that data had been downloaded or copied.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I think this is a backward step. It will definitely add to the stress I already feel as a carer trying to protect a vulnerable family member. This means pensioners and carers will have to visit post offices and banks weekly instead of fortnightly which will increase their risk of contracting the virus, it doesn’t make sense, with the virus so prevalent in our communities. We are still supposed to be social distancing or does Heather Humphreys live on another planet.
@Teresa O’Halloran: Why not do it digitally?
@Teresa O’Halloran: you clearly haven’t read the article properly. It states pensions, widows and carers remain fortnightly.
@Teresa O’Halloran: It will not mean pensionsers and carers will have to visit the post offices and banks weekly. They can go weekly, fortnightly or even monthly if they like. Payments can be collected for up to 90 days.
@Vic’s Burd: Maybe you should read it again
@Vic’s Burd: Well VB it’s yourself who clearly hasn’t read the article properly. It clearly states pensions,widows and carers goes weekly from November 2nd.
@Vic’s Burd: However, the State pension contributory, non-contributory, widows pensions, carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit remained fortnightly.
Recipients of these payments will receive their last double week payment on the week beginning Monday 19 October.
From 2 November, recipients of all of the above payments will be paid weekly again.
@Vic’s Burd: However, the State pension contributory, non-contributory, widows pensions, carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit remained fortnightly.
Recipients of these payments will receive their last double week payment on the week beginning Monday 19 October.
@Nial Mor: ah I stand corrected! The way this article is written, it seems to refer to other payments and exclude these.
@Vic’s Burd: read the article properly. Clearly states, Pensions, carers, etc will resume weekly
On the 19th of October.
@Jeannie Laing: correction, last double payment
On 19th of October..
@Nick Caffrey: A carer cannot do it digitally because they’re collecting someone else’s money. I’m a carer for my Daughter and I have to attend the post office in person as my Daughter’s agent. Monies in her name cannot go into my account as that’s illegal. She cannot have her own account because she’s severely mentally and physically challenged. ( No speech, No brain processing to write etc).
@Vic’s Burd: you’re one hasn’t read it properly, widows carers and disability were left at every two weeks when others changed a few wks ago but every payment is to go back to weekly from next month. Read it again
@Vic’s Burd: does it ?
That’ll be hygienic, with their electronic pen signature, congregated settings, social understanding.
@longstrides: Electronoc pens have not been used in Post Offices since the start of the pandemic
@longstrides: “their social understanding” – would you like go elaborate on that?
@longstrides: I collect my payment weekly. I hand over my card. They wear gloves. I get the card back, the money and the receipt. That’s it. No signing for anything.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: gloves are pointless unless they’re changing gloves between each customer
@Angela Brady: not true. I had to pay a bill in the gpo last week and I noticd all the people receiving payments were having to use the pen and screen. I was shocked.
@A d d y o u r n a m e: gloves are more for the employee, should wash or sanitise your hands when you leave anywhere if you’re serious about this virus
@Angela Brady: They’ve been using the pen and screen in my local PO again for a good while now – it’s way too soon especially with cases rising again
It’s a good thing. People were spending the double week and had nothing for the second week. Then turning to charities for help.
@Dave Barrett: Wouldn’t that be their own fault for not better managing their own finances then?
@Ailín: it would. But as you know budgeting can go out the window when it seems like you get a wind fall.
Electronic pens have not been used in Post Offices since the start of the Pandemic last March
@Angela Brady: they are indeed still been used I saw folk using them last week when I was posting a parcel
@Tom Harpur Photography: they are not used in my post office since March.
@Teresa O’Halloran: mine neither
@Angela Brady: Depends on the An Post branch, it seems. In my local they’re still used.
Usual st#pidity from government. Level 3 likely to go up another level or 2 and now pushing the most vulnerable to cluster for their payments.
@Derek Anderson: If by most vunerable you mean pensioners, you are wrong. Pensioners can collect their payment any day within a period of 12 weeks after the payment has been authorised.
Why does she have to refer to citizens as customers?
It really is The Hunger Games, Ireland edition. We are currently facing a massive rise is cases and these clowns want the vunrable who still collect their money in person heading to the post office more often. This will probably mean more people switching to bank payments. Good for the banks and all those extra charges they will collect, bad for post offices, some of which will end up closing from loss of long term footfall business.
@Carol Oates: it can be collected weekly but also you can wait and still collect it fortnightly. I
@Carol Oates: They don’t have to change they can still collect there money ever 2 weeks they can even leave it there for 90 days if they want to
I have never signed for my Pension since this Pandemic started… I am only asked to read my pps no from. the back of the card…
If we go to level 5 will it go back.?
Will that get rid of the virus.
Ok bit could you make it a week from there last payment and not decide to change the payment day and leave those in need v short
Why would anybody be short? They are getting a double week on the 19th and then weekly from the 2nd.
@Richard: they shouldn’t be short. They are getting the same amount of money only over a longer period but they spend it then rely on the state to help them out. No personal responsibility whatsoever
have your say