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We’re the creative heart of Western Sydney University and the Parramatta region - one of Australia’s most culturally and linguistically diverse regions. We’re the home to renowned arts organisations and publishing houses - Sydney Review of Books and Giramondo Publishing – and partner with key cultural institutions, media organisations and communities. Our innovative and personalised approach to education graduates students who are versatile, critical thinkers. They are our future leaders, equipped to tackle the complex global issues we're facing. Our teachers are practitioners who bring their real-world experience into the classroom. They bridge the gap between theory and practice. Our research challenges expectations and delivers tangible benefits to communities and industry, bringing academic rigour once reserved for limited parts of society to all who wish to participate. Get to know us: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/sohca CRICOS Provider No: 00917K

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts A.I CyberSecurity Scoring

WSUSHCA

Company Details

Linkedin ID:

humanitiescommsarts-wsu

Employees number:

12

Number of followers:

1,178

NAICS:

6113

Industry Type:

Higher Education

Homepage:

westernsydney.edu.au

IP Addresses:

0

Company ID:

WES_1150971

Scan Status:

In-progress

AI scoreWSUSHCA Risk Score (AI oriented)

Between 650 and 699

https://images.rankiteo.com/companyimages/humanitiescommsarts-wsu.jpeg
WSUSHCA Higher Education
Updated:
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globalscoreWSUSHCA Global Score (TPRM)

XXXX

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WSUSHCA Higher Education
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  • Benchmark vs. industry & size peers
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WSUSHCA Company CyberSecurity News & History

Past Incidents
1
Attack Types
1
EntityTypeSeverityImpactSeenBlog DetailsSupply Chain SourceIncident DetailsView
Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication ArtsBreach10056/2025NA
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the organization's existence

Description: A former student has been charged over an extended series of security breaches linked to the Western Sydney University cyberattack that has affected the institution since 2021. According to police, the university endured repeated unauthorized access, data exfiltration, system compromises, and the misuse of its infrastructure, activities that also involved threats to release student information on the dark web. Authorities estimate that hundreds of staff and students have been impacted over the course of the breaches. Detectives worked with Western Sydney University, the AFP’s Joint Policing Cyber Coordination Centre (JCP3), and external cybersecurity specialists to trace the intrusions. Their investigation led to a 27-year-old woman, a former student of the university, who was first arrested and charged in June. The Complex Case of the Western Sydney University Cyberattack Despite the earlier arrest, police allege the student continued offending, sending more than 100,000 fraudulent emails to students to damage the university’s reputation and cause distress. As part of the continuing inquiry into the cyberattack on Western Sydney University, detectives executed a search warrant in North Kellyville, where the student was again arrested. Officers stated that she possessed a mobile phone modified to function as a computer terminal, allegedly used in cyber offences. She was taken to The Hills Police Station and charged with multiple offences, including two counts of unauthori

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts: Former Student Charged in Western Sydney University Cyberattacks
Breach
Severity: 100
Impact: 5
Seen: 6/2025
Blog:
Supply Chain Source: NA
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the organization's existence

Description: A former student has been charged over an extended series of security breaches linked to the Western Sydney University cyberattack that has affected the institution since 2021. According to police, the university endured repeated unauthorized access, data exfiltration, system compromises, and the misuse of its infrastructure, activities that also involved threats to release student information on the dark web. Authorities estimate that hundreds of staff and students have been impacted over the course of the breaches. Detectives worked with Western Sydney University, the AFP’s Joint Policing Cyber Coordination Centre (JCP3), and external cybersecurity specialists to trace the intrusions. Their investigation led to a 27-year-old woman, a former student of the university, who was first arrested and charged in June. The Complex Case of the Western Sydney University Cyberattack Despite the earlier arrest, police allege the student continued offending, sending more than 100,000 fraudulent emails to students to damage the university’s reputation and cause distress. As part of the continuing inquiry into the cyberattack on Western Sydney University, detectives executed a search warrant in North Kellyville, where the student was again arrested. Officers stated that she possessed a mobile phone modified to function as a computer terminal, allegedly used in cyber offences. She was taken to The Hills Police Station and charged with multiple offences, including two counts of unauthori

Ailogo

WSUSHCA Company Scoring based on AI Models

Cyber Incidents Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

🔒
Incident Predictions locked
Access Monitoring Plan

A.I Risk Score Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

🔒
A.I. Risk Score Predictions locked
Access Monitoring Plan
statics

Underwriter Stats for WSUSHCA

Incidents vs Higher Education Industry Average (This Year)

No incidents recorded for Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts in 2026.

Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)

No incidents recorded for Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts in 2026.

Incident Types WSUSHCA vs Higher Education Industry Avg (This Year)

No incidents recorded for Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts in 2026.

Incident History — WSUSHCA (X = Date, Y = Severity)

WSUSHCA cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries

WSUSHCA Company Subsidiaries

SubsidiaryImage

We’re the creative heart of Western Sydney University and the Parramatta region - one of Australia’s most culturally and linguistically diverse regions. We’re the home to renowned arts organisations and publishing houses - Sydney Review of Books and Giramondo Publishing – and partner with key cultural institutions, media organisations and communities. Our innovative and personalised approach to education graduates students who are versatile, critical thinkers. They are our future leaders, equipped to tackle the complex global issues we're facing. Our teachers are practitioners who bring their real-world experience into the classroom. They bridge the gap between theory and practice. Our research challenges expectations and delivers tangible benefits to communities and industry, bringing academic rigour once reserved for limited parts of society to all who wish to participate. Get to know us: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/sohca CRICOS Provider No: 00917K

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faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.

WSUSHCA CyberSecurity History Information

Official Website of Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts

The official website of Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts is https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/sohca.

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score

According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 698, reflecting their Weak security posture.

How many security badges does Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts’ have ?

According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts currently holds 0 security badges, indicating that no recognized compliance certifications are currently verified for the organization.

Has Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts been affected by any supply chain cyber incidents ?

According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts has not been affected by any supply chain cyber incidents, and no incident IDs are currently listed for the organization.

Does Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.

Does Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.

Does Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts comply with GDPR ?

According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts is not listed as GDPR compliant.

Does Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts have PCI DSS certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.

Does Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts comply with HIPAA ?

According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Does Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts have ISO 27001 certification ?

According to Rankiteo,Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts is not certified under ISO 27001, indicating the absence of a formally recognized information security management framework.

Industry Classification of Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts operates primarily in the Higher Education industry.

Number of Employees at Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts employs approximately 12 people worldwide.

Subsidiaries Owned by Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts’s LinkedIn Followers

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 1,178 followers.

NAICS Classification of Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts is classified under the NAICS code 6113, which corresponds to Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools.

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts’s Presence on Crunchbase

No, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts does not have a profile on Crunchbase.

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts’s Presence on LinkedIn

Yes, Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts maintains an official LinkedIn profile, which is actively utilized for branding and talent engagement, which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanitiescommsarts-wsu.

Cybersecurity Incidents Involving Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts

As of January 25, 2026, Rankiteo reports that Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts has experienced 1 cybersecurity incidents.

Number of Peer and Competitor Companies

Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts has an estimated 15,204 peer or competitor companies worldwide.

What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts ?

Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Breach.

How does Western Sydney University - School of Humanities and Communication Arts detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?

Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an third party assistance with external cybersecurity specialists, and .

Incident Details

Can you provide details on each incident ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access

Title: Western Sydney University Cyberattack

Description: A former student has been charged over an extended series of security breaches linked to the Western Sydney University cyberattack that has affected the institution since 2021. The university endured repeated unauthorized access, data exfiltration, system compromises, and the misuse of its infrastructure, including threats to release student information on the dark web. The attacker also sent over 100,000 fraudulent emails to students to damage the university’s reputation and cause distress.

Date Detected: 2021

Type: Unauthorized Access

Attack Vector: Initial Access BrokerPhishing Emails

Threat Actor: Former Student (27-year-old woman)

Motivation: Reputation DamageDistressData Extortion

What are the most common types of attacks the company has faced ?

Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Breach.

Impact of the Incidents

What was the impact of each incident ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access HUM1764928995

Systems Affected: University Infrastructure

Operational Impact: Repeated unauthorized access and system compromises

Brand Reputation Impact: Significant (fraudulent emails, threats to release data)

Identity Theft Risk: True

What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents ?

Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Student Information and .

Which entities were affected by each incident ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access HUM1764928995

Entity Name: Western Sydney University

Entity Type: Educational Institution

Industry: Education

Location: Australia

Customers Affected: Hundreds of staff and students

Response to the Incidents

What measures were taken in response to each incident ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access HUM1764928995

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: External cybersecurity specialists

How does the company involve third-party assistance in incident response ?

Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through External cybersecurity specialists.

Data Breach Information

What type of data was compromised in each breach ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access HUM1764928995

Type of Data Compromised: Student information

Sensitivity of Data: High (Personally Identifiable Information)

Ransomware Information

Was ransomware involved in any of the incidents ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access HUM1764928995

Data Exfiltration: True

Regulatory Compliance

Were there any regulatory violations and fines imposed for each incident ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access HUM1764928995

Legal Actions: Multiple charges filed against the threat actor

How does the company ensure compliance with regulatory requirements ?

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: The company ensures compliance with regulatory requirements through Multiple charges filed against the threat actor.

References

Where can I find more information about each incident ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access HUM1764928995

Source: Police Report

Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?

Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Police Report.

Investigation Status

What is the current status of the investigation for each incident ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access HUM1764928995

Investigation Status: Ongoing

Post-Incident Analysis

What is the company's process for conducting post-incident analysis ?

Post-Incident Analysis Process: The company's process for conducting post-incident analysis is described as External cybersecurity specialists.

Additional Questions

General Information

Who was the attacking group in the last incident ?

Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident was an Former Student (27-year-old woman).

Incident Details

What was the most recent incident detected ?

Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on 2021.

Impact of the Incidents

What was the most significant system affected in an incident ?

Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident was University Infrastructure.

Response to the Incidents

What third-party assistance was involved in the most recent incident ?

Third-Party Assistance in Most Recent Incident: The third-party assistance involved in the most recent incident was External cybersecurity specialists.

Data Breach Information

Regulatory Compliance

What was the most significant legal action taken for a regulatory violation ?

Most Significant Legal Action: The most significant legal action taken for a regulatory violation was Multiple charges filed against the threat actor.

References

What is the most recent source of information about an incident ?

Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident is Police Report.

Investigation Status

What is the current status of the most recent investigation ?

Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is Ongoing.

cve

Latest Global CVEs (Not Company-Specific)

Description

The WP Go Maps (formerly WP Google Maps) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the processBackgroundAction() function in all versions up to, and including, 10.0.04. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to modify global map engine settings.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 5.3
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Description

The Save as PDF Plugin by PDFCrowd plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘options’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 4.5.5 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link. NOTE: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires that the PDFCrowd API key is blank (also known as "demo mode", which is the default configuration when the plugin is installed) or known.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 6.1
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Description

The Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to incorrect file type validation in the action_import_module() function in all versions up to, and including, 7.8.9.2. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with a lower-privileged role (e.g., Subscriber-level access and above), to upload arbitrary files on the affected site's server which may make remote code execution possible. Successful exploitation requires an admin to grant Hustle module permissions (or module edit access) to the low-privileged user so they can access the Hustle admin page and obtain the required nonce.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 7.5
Severity: HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description

The WP Directory Kit plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.9 via the wdk_public_action AJAX handler. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to extract email addresses for users with Directory Kit-specific user roles.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 5.3
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Description

The Meta-box GalleryMeta plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings in all versions up to, and including, 3.0.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with editor-level permissions and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 4.4
Severity: HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

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Digital Assets

Every week, Rankiteo analyzes billions of signals to give organizations a sharper, faster view of emerging risks. With deeper, more actionable intelligence at their fingertips, security teams can outpace threat actors, respond instantly to Zero-Day attacks, and dramatically shrink their risk exposure window.

These are some of the factors we use to calculate the overall score:

Network Security

Identify exposed access points, detect misconfigured SSL certificates, and uncover vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure.

SBOM (Software Bill of Materials)

Gain visibility into the software components used within an organization to detect vulnerabilities, manage risk, and ensure supply chain security.

CMDB (Configuration Management Database)

Monitor and manage all IT assets and their configurations to ensure accurate, real-time visibility across the company's technology environment.

Threat Intelligence

Leverage real-time insights on active threats, malware campaigns, and emerging vulnerabilities to proactively defend against evolving cyberattacks.

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