Harvard University disclosed that an unauthorized actor accessed one of its major fundraising and alumni databases this week, marking the latest in a succession of cyberattacks targeting elite U.S. universities and the second breach the institution has investigated this year.
University officials said the intrusion followed a phone-based phishing attack on Tuesday that enabled the attacker to obtain credentials and infiltrate systems tied to alumni and donor engagement. The compromised data includes personal contact information, donation histories, and other records associated with alumni, donors, some students and faculty.
Harvard, considered the wealthiest university in the United States and a perennial fund-raising powerhouse, typically raises more than $1 billion annually. It has faced heightened security scrutiny since October, when it began investigating reports of a separate breach linked to a broader hacking campaign targeting Oracle customers.
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A System Targeted Twice in a Year
Harvard said in a statement posted to its website that it did not yet know who was responsible for the latest breach. Tim Bailey, director of communications for Harvard University Information Technology, said in an emailed response that the school “acted immediately to remove the attacker’s access and prevent further unauthorized activity” and is working with external cybersecurity experts as well as law enforcement.
The university did not confirm whether the attacker attempted to access or tamper with financial systems, or whether any donation-related commitments were affected.
Part of a Broader Assault on the Ivy League
The breach adds to a troubling pattern at America’s most prestigious campuses, where universities have become lucrative and vulnerable targets for cybercriminals. In recent weeks alone:
Princeton University disclosed on Nov. 15 that a database containing records of alumni, donors, students and community members had been compromised.
The University of Pennsylvania reported on Oct. 31 that information systems linked to its development and alumni activities were breached.
Columbia University began investigating a hack in June that exposed the personal information of about 870,000 people, including students and applicants.
Security analysts say universities hold unusually rich stores of personal, financial and research data, while relying on sprawling, decentralized digital systems that can be difficult to lock down. Phone-based phishing attacks—such as the one used against Harvard—have grown more common as attackers seek to bypass email filters and endpoint protections.
Investigation Ongoing as Institutions Strengthen Defenses
Harvard said it is currently notifying affected individuals and has deployed additional security controls, including tighter monitoring of account access and enhanced verification requirements.
The university urged its community to remain alert for suspicious communications, noting that information gathered during breaches is often weaponized in later phishing attempts.
With multiple Ivy League schools now reporting intrusions within months of each other, federal officials and cybersecurity researchers are expected to examine whether the attacks represent isolated opportunistic breaches or a coordinated campaign.
For now, the investigation continues, with officials warning that American universities—guardians of some of the world’s most high-value academic, financial and research assets—remain high-risk targets in an increasingly aggressive cyber landscape.
