Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

(File Image) An automatic reply copied a mass email group which led to students gaining access to the person's original query. Rolling News

Glitch in DCU email list allows students to view sensitive information of other students

Emails included references to sensitive queries, as well as sharing sensitive data including student numbers and email signatures.

A GLITCH IN a mass email in Dublin City University has led to students receiving automatic responses with sensitive information about other students attached.

The original email, which included information about registering for the upcoming academic year, was sent to students earlier today.

A student initially contacted the university with a query and received an automatic reply, notifying them that there was a “high volume of queries”.

However, the automatic reply copied a mass email group into the response which led to students gaining access to the person’s original query. This led to thousands of students gaining access to the person’s original query.

Subsequent emails included references to other sensitive queries, as well as sharing sensitive data including student numbers and email signatures.

Any student who replied to the email was automatically copied into the subsequent reply, leading to a number of students’ emails being seen by anyone on the email list.

It is not clear what caused the error, but it is understood the problem has now been contained.

In a statement to The Journal a spokesperson for the university said the university’s IT department are aware of the issue and are currently working to resolve it. The university could not provide any further comment.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
14 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean weir
    Favourite sean weir
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 6:28 PM

    It’s not a “glitch” it’s a data breach

    294
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter
    Favourite Peter
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 7:32 PM

    @sean weir:

    Article 82 of GDPR ….

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute R Incognito
    Favourite R Incognito
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 7:14 PM

    A glitch ? No. A breach of potentially sensitive information, caused by human error, more likely. A glitch is defined as “ a sudden malfunction “, sounds like standard email functionality to me, i.e., somebody set the auto response to copy a distribution group either by mistake or without understanding the impact.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Sullivan
    Favourite Daniel Sullivan
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 8:00 PM

    This isn’t an IT department problem, it’s some administration person setting up Reply To All for the message.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trent
    Favourite Trent
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 6:19 PM

    That’s what happens when you leave teachers in charge

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B6Tr3OgE
    Favourite B6Tr3OgE
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 6:26 PM

    @Trent: Very simple lack of real IT professionals running IT strategy and security in these places.

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute
    Favourite
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 6:08 PM

    All the government un indoctrination emails very visible so then. I wonder will any of them surface online.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trent
    Favourite Trent
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 6:36 PM

    The state of the orange one trying to look Sinatra in his mug shot

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute pBDSiMMi
    Favourite pBDSiMMi
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 8:02 PM

    Anytime you see the “a glitch” statement then it means somebody hacked the system. That’s what a glitch mean me in the computer world.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute
    Favourite
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 7:54 PM

    Are there too many glitches these days or are they cyber attacks

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tronald Dump
    Favourite Tronald Dump
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 10:09 PM

    Glitch == Human Error #NeverForget

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute offside again
    Favourite offside again
    Report
    Aug 25th 2023, 9:50 PM

    What is ‘sensetive’ information ? How does it become available ?
    Do you tell your neighbours everything ?

    10
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds