Open University down after hack attack (updated)

The Open University of Cyprus has been hacked and its services down for over 24 hours, it announced on Tuesday.

Its online teaching platform, web portal and application system were out of service since the hack began on Monday morning, its rector Petros Pashiardis told the Cyprus News Agency.

Updates on the state of the website will be made on social media and via email for members of the university community.

“Yesterday (Monday) morning, the attack began and slowly, slowly it worsened. As a result, we decided to preventatively close external access to the university to handle it internally. It was the safest thing we could do.”

Pashiardis denied there had been any requests for money.

He said restoring the website may be a slow process as IT specialists wanted to take things one step at a time.

Communications commissioner George Michaelides, who heads digital security, told CNA they were exploring whether the hacks on the land registration website, University of Cyprus and Open University were connected.

He did not wish to comment on whether there were any common characteristics between the hacks.

Earlier this month, the land registration website was down after a hack, and is gradually being restored.