Wits students raise data safety fears following Ulwazi cyberattack and information breach
Students have raised concerns over personal data safety and cybersecurity after a cyberattack on the university’s Ulwazi platform exposed sensitive information linked to thousands of users.
Following the cyberattack on Wits University’s Ulwazi learning platform, students are questioning the safety of their personal information and the university’s cybersecurity systems after sensitive data linked to students and staff was compromised.
Wits University communications manager, Shirona Patel confirmed that Ulwazi had been restored and that learning and teaching activities were continuing as scheduled.
Although the system is back online, for some students, the incident has sparked anxiety about how vulnerable their personal and academic information may be on digital learning systems used daily across campus. Wits student Lusanda Mqondo said the news of the breach was unsettling because Ulwazi contains more than academic material.
Read more: Cyberattack disrupts Wits Ulwazi system, exposing student and staff records
“Ulwazi has a lot of information, not just academic information, but including my personal information,” Mqondo said.
Although only moderately concerned, Mqondo said one fear that immediately came to mind was the possibility of tampering with student records. “I am asking myself what if these people are deregistering me.”
Despite those concerns, Mqondo said students have continued using the platform normally since it came back online, although they intend to change their passwords as a precaution.
Mqondo also felt the university communicated effectively throughout the incident. “They sent us an email letting us know about the crisis, and after they fixed it, they sent another email.”
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Third-year Wits student Mbali Zwane shared similar concerns, saying the breach was worrying even though students did not take further action beyond temporarily avoiding the platform after hearing about the attack.
Zwane said the university handled communication around the incident well, but believed stronger security measures would now be necessary.
The university has also urged students and staff to remain cautious of suspicious emails or messages claiming to come from Wits or Canvas, especially messages requesting login details or personal information.
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