Otterbein University working to resolve malware attack before switching to online classes
Amid COVID-19 concerns, Otterbein University, like many other universities is switching to online classes, but first they'll have to resolve a malware attack on the university's network. (WSYX/WTTE)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Amid COVID-19 concerns, Otterbein University, like many other universities is switching to online classes, but first they'll have to resolve a malware attack on the university's network.
Just as students were returning from spring break last Friday, the university was hit with a malware attack.
Students were told on Tuesday, March 10th that they would have the rest of the week off before starting online classes on the 16th.
At this point, they don't know how long it will take to get the system back to normal, but university officials are telling students they expect to have an update on when classes will resume by Friday, March 12th.
"We don't really know where to go from here, so it's just been kind of stressful,” Otterbein University Freshman, Jordynn Schriner said.
Schriner and her friend Emily Combs came back from spring break to another week, class-free.
"It was nice because it was like an extra day of spring break and to like unwind from spring break, but now it's just kind of gotten stressful,” Combs said.
Over spring break, they both found out they were accepted into Otterbein’s nursing program but accepting their spot in the program is the tricky part.
“So, we have to send in an acceptance email by a certain day, so we're like ‘What do we do? How do we communicate that we're wanting to be in that program?” and it's just the unknown,” Combs said.
“It's definitely been really hard not having internet,” Schriner said. “You don't realize how much you need it until you don't have it."
The university still doesn't know how this attack was possible. School officials are recommending staff and students change any usernames and passwords of any accounts recently logged into on a university computer. That could mean email, social media, or bank accounts, and they said it’s best to do it on a non-university computer.
University officials said they are working with experienced computer forensic specialists to get this resolved as quickly as possible.
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