{"id":890,"date":"2025-03-22T18:18:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T19:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/?p=890"},"modified":"2025-03-27T12:40:59","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T12:40:59","slug":"over-3-million-applicants-data-leaked-on-nyus-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/22\/over-3-million-applicants-data-leaked-on-nyus-website\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 3 million applicants\u2019 data leaked on NYU\u2019s website"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nyunews.com\/news\/2025\/03\/22\/nyu-website-hacked-data-leak\/\" title=\"Over 3 million applicants\u2019 data leaked on NYU\u2019s website\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image lazyload\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/news-titlevi-1200x800-2.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A hacker took over NYU\u2019s website for at least two hours Saturday morning to expose over 3 million applicants\u2019 names, test scores, majors and zip codes, as well as information related to family members and financial aid dating back to at least 1989.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The university\u2019s website was restored at around noon. The hacked page displayed three charts with what the group claims to be NYU\u2019s average admitted SAT scores, ACT scores and GPAs for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. The group argued that despite the Supreme Court\u2019s takedown of affirmative action in 2023, \u201cNYU continued anyway,\u201d showing that the average admitted test scores and GPAs for Asian and white applicants were higher than those who identify as Hispanic or Black.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The page, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/nyu\/comments\/1jh9sop\/we_got_hacked\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">first reported by a user on Reddit at around 10:30 a.m.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, included four accessible CSV files revealing NYU admissions data since at least 1989, including over 3 million admitted students\u2019 applications, demographic data, city and zip codes, and citizenship status. The files also show Common Application data, which includes details of financial aid, rejected students, how many students applied Early Decision and personal information about siblings and parents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-slideshow-area\">\n<div class=\"flex-container inline-slideshow-inner-area inline-slideshow-inner-area sfiphotowrap\" data-photo-ids=\"278547,278548\" data-story-id=\"278552\" data-smooth-height=\"true\" data-autoscroll-speed=\"4000\" data-autoscroll=\"false\">\n<div class=\"flexslider inline-slideshow\">\n<div class=\"sno_slideshow_nav_left\">\n            <button class=\"custom-navigation\" aria-label=\"Navigate to Previous Slide\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slideshow_navigation\">\n                    <span class=\"slideshow_left flex-prev\"><br \/>\n                        <i class=\"fa fa-angle-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n<p>            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"sno_slideshow_nav_right\">\n            <button class=\"custom-navigation\" aria-label=\"Navigate to Next Slide\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slideshow_navigation\">\n                    <span class=\"slideshow_right flex-next\"><br \/>\n                        <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n<p>            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n<ul class=\"slides\">\n<li class=\"storyslide inlinestoryslide\">\n<div class=\"inline-caption-container\">\n<p class=\"photocaptioninline\">The hacked page revealed charts allegedly detailing standardized test scores and GPAs of admits for the 2024-25 application cycle.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"inline-photo-wrap modal-photo\" data-image=\"278547\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-label=\"View larger version of image.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" id=\"image278547\" src=\"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-22-at-12.32.03\u202fPM.png\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin:0 auto\" class=\"\" alt=\"Over 3 million applicants\u2019 data leaked on NYU\u2019s website\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"storyslide inlinestoryslide\">\n<div class=\"inline-photo-wrap modal-photo\" data-image=\"278548\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-label=\"View larger version of image.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" id=\"image278548\" src=\"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-22-at-12.32.42\u202fPM.png\" style=\"max-height:100%;margin:0 auto\" class=\"\" alt=\"Over 3 million applicants\u2019 data leaked on NYU\u2019s website\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inline-thumb-navigation-area inline-thumbnav\">\n<div class=\"flexslider inline-thumbnails\">\n<div class=\"sno_thumbnail_nav_left\">\n<div class=\"custom-navigation\">\n                    <span class=\"flex-prev\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"thumbnail_left\">\n<div class=\"fa fa-angle-left\">\n<div class=\"icon-hidden-text\">Navigate Left<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"sno_thumbnail_nav_right\">\n<div class=\"custom-navigation\">\n                    <span class=\"flex-next\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"thumbnail_right\">\n<div class=\"fa fa-angle-right\">\n<div class=\"icon-hidden-text\">Navigate Right<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"slides\">\n<li class=\"inline-thumb\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"inline-thumbnail lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-22-at-12.32.03\u202fPM-300x158-1.png\">\n                        <\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-thumb\">\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"newssourcephotos\" data-photoids=\"278547,278548\"><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In a statement to WSN at around 2 p.m., NYU spokesperson John Beckman said the university\u2019s IT team responded to \u201cmalicious hackers\u201d immediately and the redirected webpage \u201chas been brought to a halt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThe university reported the hack to law enforcement, is taking steps to make sure the attackers are out of our systems, and is reviewing the university\u2019s systems to bolster their security,\u201d Beckman said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In July 2023, an online group who went by the same pseudonym, \u201cComputer Niggy Exploitation,\u201d leaked more than 7 million social security numbers by hacking the University of Minnesota\u2019s admissions records since 1989, in a similar attempt to compare students\u2019 racial demographics to their test scores. Two alumni whose data had been leaked <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/datafort.com\/university-of-minnesota-hit-with-lawsuit-amidst-major-data-leak\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">filed a class-action lawsuit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> against the university later that year, arguing that the breach could have been prevented and that its failure to protect personal information violates the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Other major universities have been victim to data breaches and leaks in the last few years. In 2019, some Stanford University students\u2019 SSNs, home addresses, citizenship status and standardized test scores <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/stanforddaily.com\/2019\/02\/14\/data-breach-allowed-students-to-view-other-students-admission-files-sensitive-personal-data\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">were available<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> through Common Application and high school data leaks. In October 2024, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thehoya.com\/news\/developing-data-leak-exposes-financial-aid-ssn-gpa-admissions-visa-information-of-students-and-graduates\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a data breach at Georgetown University<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> exposed students\u2019 and graduates\u2019 financial aid information, social security numbers, GPAs, admissions details and visa information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In July 2023, NYU issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court\u2019s affirmative action ruling as a \u201cstep backwards.\u201d Admissions data released last October showed a significant drop in historically underrepresented minority groups \u2014 namely students who identify as \u201cBlack, Hispanic, Native American and Hawaiian and other Pacific islander\u201d \u2014 with Black student enrollment falling to 4% from 7% and Latino student enrollment falling to 10% from 15%. In a corresponding statement, president Linda Mills said the changes were \u201cnot unanticipated\u201d but that the university will \u201ccontinue to innovate on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Contact Dharma Niles, Krish Dev and Yezen Saadah at news@nyunews.com.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This story <a href=\"https:\/\/nyunews.com\/news\/2025\/03\/22\/nyu-website-hacked-data-leak\/\">Over 3 million applicants\u2019 data leaked on NYU\u2019s website<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/nyunews.com\">Washington Square News<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A hacker took over NYU\u2019s website for at least two hours Saturday morning to expose over 3 million applicants\u2019 names, test scores, majors and zip codes, as well as information related to family members and financial aid dating back to at least 1989.\u00a0 The university\u2019s website was restored at around noon. The hacked page displayed three charts with what the group claims to be NYU\u2019s average admitted SAT scores, ACT scores and GPAs for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. The group argued that despite the Supreme Court\u2019s takedown of affirmative action in 2023, \u201cNYU continued anyway,\u201d showing that the average admitted test scores and GPAs for Asian and white applicants were higher than those who identify as Hispanic or Black.\u00a0 The page, first reported by a user on Reddit at around 10:30 a.m., included four accessible CSV files revealing NYU admissions data since at least 1989, including over 3 million admitted students\u2019 applications, demographic data, city and zip codes, and citizenship status. The files also show Common Application data, which includes details of financial aid, rejected students, how many students applied Early Decision and personal information about siblings and parents.\u00a0 The hacked page revealed charts allegedly detailing standardized test scores and GPAs of admits for the 2024-25 application cycle. Navigate Left Navigate Right In a statement to WSN at around 2 p.m., NYU spokesperson John Beckman said the university\u2019s IT team responded to \u201cmalicious hackers\u201d immediately and the redirected webpage \u201chas been brought to a halt.\u201d \u201cThe university reported the hack to law enforcement, is taking steps to make sure the attackers are out of our systems, and is reviewing the university\u2019s systems to bolster their security,\u201d Beckman said.\u00a0 In July 2023, an online group who went by the same pseudonym, \u201cComputer Niggy Exploitation,\u201d leaked more than 7 million social security numbers by hacking the University of Minnesota\u2019s admissions records since 1989, in a similar attempt to compare students\u2019 racial demographics to their test scores. Two alumni whose data had been leaked filed a class-action lawsuit against the university later that year, arguing that the breach could have been prevented and that its failure to protect personal information violates the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Other major universities have been victim to data breaches and leaks in the last few years. In 2019, some Stanford University students\u2019 SSNs, home addresses, citizenship status and standardized test scores were available through Common Application and high school data leaks. In October 2024, a data breach at Georgetown University exposed students\u2019 and graduates\u2019 financial aid information, social security numbers, GPAs, admissions details and visa information.\u00a0 In July 2023, NYU issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court\u2019s affirmative action ruling as a \u201cstep backwards.\u201d Admissions data released last October showed a significant drop in historically underrepresented minority groups \u2014 namely students who identify as \u201cBlack, Hispanic, Native American and Hawaiian and other Pacific islander\u201d \u2014 with Black student enrollment falling to 4% from 7% and Latino student enrollment falling to 10% from 15%. In a corresponding statement, president Linda Mills said the changes were \u201cnot unanticipated\u201d but that the university will \u201ccontinue to innovate on.\u201d Contact Dharma Niles, Krish Dev and Yezen Saadah at news@nyunews.com. This story Over 3 million applicants\u2019 data leaked on NYU\u2019s website appeared first on Washington Square News.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":892,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=890"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":897,"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890\/revisions\/897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jtotheb.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}