Columbia University Breach Exposes Data of 870,000 Including SSNs and Health Records

Columbia University has become the latest high-profile victim in a string of education sector cyberattacks, with a newly disclosed breach exposing sensitive personal data of approximately 870,000 individuals. The compromised information includes current and former students, applicants, and employees spanning several years of university records.

According to university officials, the breach exposed multiple categories of highly sensitive data, including:

• Social Security numbers
• Financial aid information
• Contact details and demographic information
• Some protected health information
• Academic records

The university detected unusual activity in its systems in late July 2025 and immediately launched an investigation with cybersecurity experts. While the exact method of intrusion hasn't been publicly disclosed, sources familiar with the investigation suggest attackers likely exploited vulnerabilities in third-party systems connected to the university's network.

This incident follows a troubling pattern of attacks targeting educational institutions, which often maintain vast repositories of sensitive data but may lack enterprise-level security resources. Columbia has notified all affected individuals and is offering two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through a leading provider.

Cybersecurity experts warn that the exposed data creates significant risks for victims, particularly given the inclusion of Social Security numbers and financial information that could be used for identity theft schemes. The presence of some health data raises additional concerns about potential HIPAA compliance issues, though university representatives state that only limited medical information was involved.

The breach has prompted calls for stronger cybersecurity measures across higher education institutions. 'Universities are particularly vulnerable targets because they maintain decades of sensitive records while operating in an open academic environment,' noted Dr. Elena Rodriguez, a cybersecurity professor at NYU. 'This breach should serve as a wake-up call for the entire education sector.'

Columbia has established a dedicated response team and hotline for affected individuals while working with law enforcement on the ongoing investigation. The university has also initiated a comprehensive review of all third-party vendor security protocols and is accelerating planned upgrades to its cybersecurity infrastructure.