PASUP
Company Details
Linkedin ID:
pennsas
Website:
Employees number:
52
Number of followers:
2,975
NAICS:
6113
Industry Type:
Homepage:
https://www.sas.upenn.edu
IP Addresses:
0
Company ID:
PEN_2207593
Scan Status:
In-progress
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania Company CyberSecurity Posture
https://www.sas.upenn.edu
The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) forms the foundation of the scholarly excellence that has established Penn as one of the world's leading research universities. We teach students across all 12 Penn schools, and our academic departments span the reach from anthropology and biology to sociology and South Asian studies. The three educational divisions of SAS fulfill different missions, united by the School's broader commitment to providing its students with an unrivaled education in the arts and sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences is the academic home of the majority of Penn undergraduates and provides 60 percent of the courses taken by students in Penn's undergraduate professional schools. The Graduate Division offers doctoral training to over 1,500 candidates in more than 30 graduate programs. And the College of Liberal and Professional Studies provides a range of educational opportunities for lifelong learners and working professionals.
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania A.I CyberSecurity Scoring
PASUP Risk Score (AI oriented)Between 0 and 549
PASUP
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PASUP Global Score (TPRM)XXXX
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PASUP Company CyberSecurity News & History
Past Incidents
7
Attack Types
1
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) suffered a mass cybersecurity breach on **October 30–31, 2023**, where hackers compromised **select information systems**, including an employee account and **Salesforce Marketing Cloud**. The attackers exfiltrated data belonging to **1.2 million individuals**, including students, alumni, and donors. Stolen information comprised **donation histories, estimated net worth, names, race, and other demographic details**. The breach led to **mass scam emails** sent to ~700,000 recipients, containing offensive content and threats to leak all stolen data. The hacker claimed full access to user data and criticized Penn’s security practices. The university reported the incident to the **FBI** and engaged third-party technical resources for mitigation. While no ransomware was confirmed, the breach exposed **highly sensitive personal and financial records**, posing severe reputational, financial, and operational risks. Penn’s IT and crisis response teams are actively investigating and containing the fallout.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) suffered a cyberattack involving **sophisticated identity impersonation (social engineering)**, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to internal systems linked to **fundraising and alumni databases**. The breach was detected after a fraudulent email was sent from Penn’s Graduate School of Education, triggering an investigation that uncovered the intrusion.Former students have filed lawsuits, alleging UPenn failed to adequately protect their **personal, academic, and financial records**, which may have been exposed. While the university contained the breach and restored affected systems, the **long-term risks remain unclear**, including potential misuse of stolen data (e.g., identity theft, fraud). The FBI is investigating, and UPenn has enlisted **CrowdStrike** for forensic analysis and defense reinforcement.The incident has damaged UPenn’s reputation, with alumni demanding transparency on **what data was compromised, notification timelines, and preventive measures**. The breach highlights broader concerns about **how long universities must safeguard alumni data** and the risks of storing decades-old records on interconnected systems. Legal outcomes may influence cybersecurity standards for higher education institutions nationwide.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: In late October 2025, the University of Pennsylvania suffered a major data breach after a hacker compromised an employee’s **PennKey SSO account**, gaining unauthorized access to critical systems, including the **VPN, Salesforce, analytics platforms, and internal files**. The attacker exfiltrated sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) of approximately **1.2 million students, alumni, and donors**, including **names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, financial/demographic data (estimated net worth, donation history), race, religion, and sexual orientation**. The breach escalated when the hacker sent **offensive emails to hundreds of thousands of recipients** via Penn’s mailing list and **publicly leaked samples of stolen data** as proof. The incident was reported to the **FBI**, and the university issued a cybersecurity notice on **November 4, 2025**. Victims face risks of **identity theft, phishing, and financial fraud**, with legal firms (e.g., Shamis & Gentile P.A.) investigating potential **class-action lawsuits** for compensation covering credit monitoring, identity protection, and financial losses.
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: The University of Pennsylvania experienced a cybersecurity breach between **October 31, 2025, and November 1, 2025**, where attackers gained unauthorized access to an employee’s **PennKey account** and exfiltrated sensitive data. The breach resulted in the public disclosure of **thousands of internal files**, including **internal communications, donor records, bank transaction receipts, and personal information (names, addresses, contact details)** of approximately **1.2 million students, alumni, and donors**. The attackers threatened to **sell or further disclose the data**, exposing victims to **identity theft, fraud, and financial risks**. The incident prompted a **class action lawsuit investigation** by Edelson Lechtzin LLP, highlighting severe reputational, financial, and operational consequences for the university.
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) suffered a significant **data breach** targeting its information systems, compromising the **confidential data of 1.2 million students, alumni, and donors**. The breach, disclosed on **November 2, 2024**, led to a wave of **class-action lawsuits** from graduates alleging negligence in cybersecurity measures. Plaintiffs claim Penn failed to maintain adequate security systems, monitor for intrusions, or ensure third-party vendors followed proper protocols. The stolen data reportedly includes **Personally Identifiable Information (PII)**, though the full scope remains under investigation. Penn confirmed the breach was **contained** but has not detailed the exact nature of the exposed data. Lawsuits argue the impact is **far broader than acknowledged**, with long-term repercussions expected for affected individuals, including potential **identity theft, financial fraud, or reputational harm**. The incident underscores systemic vulnerabilities in Penn’s data protection framework, raising concerns over compliance and trust among stakeholders.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) suffered a significant cybersecurity breach in late October 2023, where hackers infiltrated inadequately secured email systems and exfiltrated **personally identifiable information (PII)** of students, alumni, donors, and employees. The breach exposed internal documents, including **bank transaction receipts, donor memos, and sensitive PII**, which were later dumped publicly. A class-action lawsuit filed by a Penn alumnus alleges negligence, citing UPenn’s failure to implement robust security measures, monitor systems, or enforce vendor safeguards. The attackers, motivated by targeting **ultra-high-net-worth individuals**, exploited weak authentication protocols. The University reported the incident to the FBI and acknowledged the leak’s severity, though the full scope of misuse (e.g., identity theft, financial fraud) remains unresolved. The lawsuit argues UPenn violated the **Federal Trade Commission Act** by failing to protect data, with plaintiffs claiming lifelong risks from the exposed information.
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: The University of Pennsylvania suffered a targeted email hack where attackers exploited a **PennKey single sign-on (SSO) account** belonging to a university employee via **social engineering**. The breach granted unauthorized access to multiple systems, including the **Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, file repositories, a reporting application, and Marketing Cloud**, compromising data of **1.2 million students, alumni, and donors**. Hackers claimed to have stolen **donor records, bank transactions, and internal memos**, threatening to sell or leak the data for financial gain. While Penn restored systems and engaged law enforcement (FBI) and CrowdStrike for investigation, the full scope of exposed data remains unverified. The attack involved **mass phishing emails** sent from the Graduate School of Education’s system, demanding ransom and criticizing the university’s security. Victims are now filing lawsuits, alleging negligence in safeguarding personal information. The university has yet to confirm the exact data stolen but advises affected individuals to enable **credit freezes, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and password resets** as precautionary measures.
PASUP Company Scoring based on AI Models
Cyber Incidents Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months
A.I Risk Score Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months
Underwriter Stats for PASUP
Incidents vs Higher Education Industry Average (This Year)
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania has 479.71% more incidents than the average of same-industry companies with at least one recorded incident.
Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania has 525.0% more incidents than the average of all companies with at least one recorded incident.
Incident Types PASUP vs Higher Education Industry Avg (This Year)
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania reported 4 incidents this year: 0 cyber attacks, 0 ransomware, 0 vulnerabilities, 4 data breaches, compared to industry peers with at least 1 incident.
Incident History — PASUP (X = Date, Y = Severity)
PASUP cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries
PASUP Company Subsidiaries
The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) forms the foundation of the scholarly excellence that has established Penn as one of the world's leading research universities. We teach students across all 12 Penn schools, and our academic departments span the reach from anthropology and biology to sociology and South Asian studies. The three educational divisions of SAS fulfill different missions, united by the School's broader commitment to providing its students with an unrivaled education in the arts and sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences is the academic home of the majority of Penn undergraduates and provides 60 percent of the courses taken by students in Penn's undergraduate professional schools. The Graduate Division offers doctoral training to over 1,500 candidates in more than 30 graduate programs. And the College of Liberal and Professional Studies provides a range of educational opportunities for lifelong learners and working professionals.
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PASUP CyberSecurity News
December 03, 2025 09:06 PM
Center for the Performing Arts champions sensory inclusion with ‘Ada Twist’
More than 1500 school children, teachers, and caregivers recently attended a performance of TheaterWorksUSA's “Ada Twist,...
November 18, 2025 08:00 AM
Two Penn professors admitted to American Academy of Sciences and Letters
The organization provides a platform for academics to share their work in various fields, including mathematics, engineering, and social and...
November 16, 2025 08:00 AM
Penn Signal Society hosts fall semester art fair to showcase and sell artwork
The event, hosted in the lobby of the Arts, Research, and Culture House, showcased both individual student-artists and creative groups on Penn's...
November 14, 2025 08:00 AM
Penn State seismologists capture Liberal Arts building event as a 'microearthquake'
Penn State seismologists capture Liberal Arts building event as a 'microearthquake' ... A "localized structural issue" caused damage to the Susan...
November 14, 2025 08:00 AM
Arts and Architecture GivingTuesday campaigns help student success, scholarships
Penn State will celebrate its 11th GivingTuesday on Dec. 2, and the College of Arts and Architecture invites alumni and friends to be a part...
November 13, 2025 08:00 AM
'Structural Issue' Suspected in Damage That Caused Evacuation of Penn State Liberal Arts Building
'Structural Issue' Suspected in Damage That Caused Evacuation of Penn State Liberal Arts Building ... A preliminary assessment determined that a “...
November 13, 2025 08:00 AM
What happened at Penn State’s new liberal arts building? University gives update
What happened at Penn State's new liberal arts building? University gives update · Penn State closed the $128M Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building...
November 13, 2025 08:00 AM
Liberal Arts building damage caused by "localized structural issue," Penn State says
Liberal Arts building damage caused by "localized structural issue," Penn State says ... A "localized structural issue" caused damage to the Susan...
November 13, 2025 08:00 AM
Structural issue believed to be the cause of Welch Building incident
The preliminary assessment of the incident that took place at the Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building yesterday (Nov. 12) indicates that the...
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.
PASUP CyberSecurity History Information
Official Website of Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
The official website of Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania is https://www.sas.upenn.edu.
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score
According to Rankiteo, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 260, reflecting their Critical security posture.
How many security badges does Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania’ have ?
According to Rankiteo, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania currently holds 0 security badges, indicating that no recognized compliance certifications are currently verified for the organization.
Does Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.
Does Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.
Does Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania comply with GDPR ?
According to Rankiteo, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania is not listed as GDPR compliant.
Does Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania have PCI DSS certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.
Does Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania comply with HIPAA ?
According to Rankiteo, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.
Does Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania have ISO 27001 certification ?
According to Rankiteo,Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania is not certified under ISO 27001, indicating the absence of a formally recognized information security management framework.
Industry Classification of Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania operates primarily in the Higher Education industry.
Number of Employees at Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania employs approximately 52 people worldwide.
Subsidiaries Owned by Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania’s LinkedIn Followers
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 2,975 followers.
NAICS Classification of Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania is classified under the NAICS code 6113, which corresponds to Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools.
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania’s Presence on Crunchbase
No, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania does not have a profile on Crunchbase.
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania’s Presence on LinkedIn
Yes, Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania maintains an official LinkedIn profile, which is actively utilized for branding and talent engagement, which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pennsas.
Cybersecurity Incidents Involving Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
As of December 04, 2025, Rankiteo reports that Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania has experienced 7 cybersecurity incidents.
Number of Peer and Competitor Companies
Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania has an estimated 14,390 peer or competitor companies worldwide.
What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania ?
Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Breach.
How does Penn Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?
Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an third party assistance with law enforcement (fbi), third party assistance with third-party technical resources, and and recovery measures with investigation in progress with fbi and technical experts, and communication strategy with public statement via university spokesperson, communication strategy with media coverage (the daily pennsylvanian, the verge), and third party assistance with legal firm (edelson lechtzin llp - investigation), and communication strategy with public disclosure via press release, communication strategy with advisory for affected individuals to monitor accounts, and incident response plan activated with yes (breach contained per university statement), and containment measures with breach contained (as of nov. 2023), and communication strategy with email to community from joshua beeman (interim vp of it and cio), communication strategy with dedicated webpage: 'cybersecurity incident information and faq', and and third party assistance with law enforcement (fbi), third party assistance with technical experts (unspecified), and and containment measures with sso account revocation, containment measures with vpn access restrictions, containment measures with system isolation (likely), and remediation measures with forensic investigation, remediation measures with password resets, remediation measures with enhanced monitoring, and recovery measures with public notice (faqs published), recovery measures with stakeholder communication, and communication strategy with cybersecurity incident notice (nov. 4, 2025), communication strategy with faqs for affected individuals, and and incident response plan activated with yes (with third-party cybersecurity firm crowdstrike), and third party assistance with crowdstrike (investigation), third party assistance with fbi (reported to law enforcement), and law enforcement notified with yes (federal bureau of investigation), and containment measures with systems locked down to prevent further access, containment measures with mass email controls tightened, and remediation measures with ongoing investigation to determine exfiltrated data, remediation measures with password resets (recommended), remediation measures with permission audits for mass emails, and recovery measures with all systems restored by 2025-11-08, recovery measures with enhanced monitoring implemented, and communication strategy with public faq released, communication strategy with emails to community warning of phishing risks, communication strategy with media statements via interim cio, and enhanced monitoring with yes (post-incident), and and third party assistance with crowdstrike (forensic review and defense reinforcement), and and containment measures with suspicious activity detected and contained, containment measures with affected systems isolated, and remediation measures with systems restored, remediation measures with 24/7 monitoring implemented, and recovery measures with all affected systems restored to normal operation, and communication strategy with official statement released, communication strategy with pledge for transparency (though alumni claim insufficient details), and and and third party assistance with technical resources (unspecified), third party assistance with fbi, and and containment measures with stopping mass emails, containment measures with securing compromised accounts, and remediation measures with investigation into breach scope, remediation measures with securing salesforce marketing cloud, and communication strategy with statements to media (the daily pennsylvanian), communication strategy with email to penn gse community, communication strategy with acknowledgment of fbi involvement..
Incident Details
Can you provide details on each incident ?
Title: University of Pennsylvania Data Breach and Class-Action Lawsuit
Description: A Penn alumnus filed a class-action lawsuit against the University of Pennsylvania, alleging negligence in protecting personally identifiable information (PII) from a security breach that occurred on or before October 31, 2023. The breach involved mass spam emails sent from Penn-affiliated accounts, and hackers accessed PII, internal documents, donor memos, bank transaction receipts, and other sensitive data. The lawsuit claims Penn failed to maintain adequate data security, violating Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The University reported the incident to the FBI and is working with law enforcement and third-party technical resources to address the breach.
Date Detected: 2023-10-31
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-10-31
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Phishing/Spam EmailsWeak Authentication System
Vulnerability Exploited: Inadequate Data Security MeasuresWeak Authentication SystemLack of Monitoring for Existing Threats
Motivation: Financial Gain (Targeting Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals)Exploitation of Weak Security for Data Theft
Title: University of Pennsylvania Data Breach (2025)
Description: The University of Pennsylvania experienced a cybersecurity breach between October 31, 2025, and November 1, 2025, involving unauthorized access to its computer network. Attackers gained 'full access' to a University employee’s PennKey account and exported data on about 1.2 million students, alumni, and donors. The leaked materials include internal communications, donor records, bank transaction receipts, and personal information (names, addresses, contact details). The group published thousands of internal files on a public forum and threatened further disclosure or sale of the data.
Date Detected: 2025-10-31
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-11-01
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Compromised Credentials (PennKey account)Mass Email Phishing (likely)Public Data Dump
Motivation: Financial Gain (potential data sale)DisruptionPublic Exposure
Title: University of Pennsylvania Data Breach and Class Action Lawsuits
Description: The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) faced a security breach of 'select information systems,' leading to multiple class action lawsuits filed by alumni. The breach allegedly exposed data from 1.2 million students, alumni, and donors. Plaintiffs claim Penn failed to implement adequate cybersecurity measures, including monitoring for intrusions and ensuring vendor security. The University has stated the breach is contained but is still investigating the extent of the compromised data.
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-11-02
Type: Data Breach
Threat Actor: Name: Unnamed hacker(s)Claim: Responsibility for stealing data from 1.2 million individuals
Title: University of Pennsylvania Data Breach (2025)
Description: In late October 2025, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) experienced a significant data breach after a hacker compromised an employee’s PennKey SSO account, gaining unauthorized access to internal systems, including the VPN, Salesforce data, analytics platforms, and internal files. The attacker claimed to have obtained data on ~1.2 million students, alumni, and donors, including sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) such as names, dates of birth, addresses, financial/demographic details, race, religion, and sexual orientation. Offensive emails were sent via Penn’s mailing list platform, and stolen data samples were posted online. The university referred the incident to the FBI and published a cybersecurity notice on Nov. 4, 2025.
Date Detected: 2025-10-31
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-11-04
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Compromised Credentials (PennKey SSO)Phishing/Social Engineering (likely)VPN Exploitation
Vulnerability Exploited: Weak Authentication (SSO)Insufficient Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)Lateral Movement within Internal Systems
Motivation: Data TheftFinancial Gain (potential ransom or dark web sale)Disruption (offensive emails)
Title: University of Pennsylvania Email Hack and Data Breach (2025)
Description: Hackers accessed the University of Pennsylvania's systems via a compromised PennKey account (single sign-on), gaining entry to CRM, file repositories, reporting applications, and Marketing Cloud. They sent mass emails threatening to leak data and claimed to have accessed records of over 1.2 million students, alumni, and donors. The breach appears financially motivated, with hackers targeting donor data, including bank transactions and internal documents. The university has restored systems but is still investigating the full extent of the breach. Multiple lawsuits have been filed by alumni over alleged negligence in data security.
Date Detected: 2025-10-31
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-11-01
Date Resolved: 2025-11-08
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Stolen Credentials (PennKey SSO)Social EngineeringPhishingMass Email Spoofing
Vulnerability Exploited: Weak Authentication SystemLack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)Insufficient Mass Email ControlsOver-Permissive Access to CRM/Donor Data
Threat Actor: Unknown (financially motivated)Allegedly targeted ultra-high-net-worth donor data
Motivation: Financial GainData Theft for ResaleExtortion (threatened leak of 'all your data')
Title: University of Pennsylvania Cyberattack and Data Breach
Description: Several former students are suing the University of Pennsylvania, alleging the school failed to secure personal data exposed in a cyberattack under FBI investigation. The breach was detected after a fraudulent email was sent from Penn’s Graduate School of Education, revealing unauthorized access to systems tied to fundraising and alumni databases. Attackers used a 'sophisticated identity impersonation' (social engineering) tactic. The university contained the breach but acknowledged some data was taken. The FBI is investigating potential links to broader attacks on universities. UPenn has hired CrowdStrike for forensic review and system reinforcement. Lawsuits highlight long-term risks for alumni, including identity theft and financial fraud, and question the university’s responsibility for safeguarding data indefinitely.
Type: data breach
Attack Vector: social engineeringidentity impersonation
Vulnerability Exploited: human vulnerability (social engineering)
Title: University of Pennsylvania (Penn) Mass Cybersecurity Breach and Data Leak
Description: Penn reported a cybersecurity breach to the FBI after hackers compromised data for millions of individuals, including students, alumni, and donors. The breach involved mass scam emails sent from University-affiliated accounts, threats to leak data, and the theft of sensitive information such as donation histories, estimated net worth, and demographic details. The attacker claimed to have accessed data from 1.2 million individuals and sent emails to roughly 700,000 recipients via Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
Date Detected: 2023-10-30
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-11-03
Type: data breach
Attack Vector: compromised employee accountexploitation of Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Motivation: data theftextortion (threatened data leak)disruption (mass scam emails)
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.
How does the company identify the attack vectors used in incidents ?
Identification of Attack Vectors: The company identifies the attack vectors used in incidents through Compromised Email Accounts (Phishing/Spam)Weak Authentication System, Compromised PennKey account (employee credentials), Compromised PennKey SSO Account, Compromised PennKey (SSO) account via social engineering, social engineering (identity impersonation via email system) and compromised employee account.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the impact of each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information (pii), Internal university talking points, Donor memos and family information, Bank transaction receipts
Systems Affected: Email AccountsUniversity Data Systems (Potentially Vendor Systems)
Operational Impact: Disruption Due to Spam EmailsReputation DamageLegal and Regulatory Scrutiny
Customer Complaints: ['Class-Action Lawsuit Filed by Alumni and Affected Individuals']
Brand Reputation Impact: Significant Damage Due to Public Disclosure of Breach and LawsuitLoss of Trust Among Alumni, Donors, and Students
Legal Liabilities: Class-Action Lawsuit for NegligencePotential Violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act
Identity Theft Risk: ['High (PII Exposed and Allegedly Targeted for Nefarious Use)']
Payment Information Risk: ['Bank Transaction Receipts Compromised']
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Systems Affected: University computer networkPennKey account system
Operational Impact: Public disclosure of internal filesReputational damagePotential legal liabilities
Brand Reputation Impact: Class action lawsuit investigationLoss of trust among students/alumni/donorsNegative media coverage
Legal Liabilities: Potential class action lawsuit (Edelson Lechtzin LLP investigation)Regulatory scrutiny
Identity Theft Risk: ['High (personal data exposed: names, addresses, contact details)']
Payment Information Risk: ['Moderate (bank transaction receipts exposed)']
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information (pii) of students, alumni, and donors
Systems Affected: Select information systems
Customer Complaints: ['Four class action lawsuits filed by alumni']
Brand Reputation Impact: Significant (multiple lawsuits alleging negligence)
Legal Liabilities: Four class action lawsuits filed (Christopher Kelly, Mary Sikora, Christian Bersani, Kelli Mackey)
Identity Theft Risk: Potential (PII exposed)
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Data Compromised: Names, Dates of birth, Addresses, Phone numbers, Financial/demographic information (net worth, donation history), Race, Religion, Sexual orientation
Systems Affected: VPNSalesforceAnalytics PlatformsInternal FilesMailing List Platform
Operational Impact: Unauthorized Email CampaignsReputation DamageInvestigation/Remediation Costs
Customer Complaints: ['Likely (given offensive emails and PII exposure)']
Brand Reputation Impact: High (Ivy League institution; sensitive data exposed)
Legal Liabilities: Potential Lawsuits (class action by Shamis & Gentile P.A.)Regulatory Scrutiny
Identity Theft Risk: ['High (PII exposed)']
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Data Compromised: Donor records, Bank transactions, Internal memos, Student/alumni/donor pii (claimed 1.2m records), Marketing cloud data, File repository contents
Systems Affected: PennKey SSOCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)File RepositoriesReporting ApplicationMarketing CloudGraduate School of Education Email System
Downtime: Systems restored within ~1 week (by 2025-11-08)
Operational Impact: Mass Fraudulent Emails SentOngoing Investigation DisruptionsReputation DamageLegal Liabilities (Multiple Lawsuits Filed)
Customer Complaints: ['Multiple Lawsuits from Alumni', 'Community Outrage Over Security Failures']
Brand Reputation Impact: Severe; Public Criticism of 'Dogshit Elitist Institution'Loss of Trust in Data SecurityNegative Media Coverage
Legal Liabilities: Four Lawsuits Filed (as of 2025-11-05)Allegations of Negligence in Data SecurityPotential Regulatory Scrutiny
Identity Theft Risk: ['High; Experts Recommend Credit Freezes', 'PII of 1.2M+ Individuals Potentially Exposed']
Payment Information Risk: ['Bank Transaction Data Accessed', 'Donor Financial Records Compromised']
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Data Compromised: Personal data, Academic histories, Financial records, Alumni/fundraising database records
Systems Affected: email system (Graduate School of Education)fundraising systemsalumni databases
Operational Impact: temporary disruption; systems later restored
Customer Complaints: ['lawsuits from former students', 'demands for transparency']
Brand Reputation Impact: reputational damageloss of trust among alumnilegal scrutiny
Legal Liabilities: multiple lawsuits from former studentspotential regulatory scrutiny
Identity Theft Risk: high (long-term risk for alumni)
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Data Compromised: Donation history, Estimated donor net worth, Demographic details (names, race), Email addresses
Systems Affected: Salesforce Marketing Cloudselect University information systems
Operational Impact: disruption due to mass scam emailsinvestigation and containment efforts
Customer Complaints: ['reports of offensive emails', 'community concerns over security practices']
Brand Reputation Impact: negative publicitycriticism of institutional security practices
Legal Liabilities: potential regulatory scrutinyFBI investigation
Identity Theft Risk: ['high (due to exposed PII and financial data)']
What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents ?
Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Personally Identifiable Information (Pii), Internal Documents, Donor Information, Bank Transaction Receipts, , Personal Identifiable Information (Pii), Internal Communications, Donor Records, Bank Transaction Receipts, Contact Details (Names, Addresses), , Personally Identifiable Information (Pii), , Pii, Financial Data, Demographic Data, Sensitive Personal Attributes (Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation), , Personally Identifiable Information (Pii), Donor Financial Records, Internal University Documents, Bank Transactions, Marketing Data, , Personal Data, Academic Records, Financial Records, Alumni/Fundraising Data, , Personally Identifiable Information (Pii), Financial Data (Donation History, Net Worth), Demographic Data and .
Which entities were affected by each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Entity Name: University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Entity Type: Educational Institution
Industry: Higher Education
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Size: Large (Over 20,000 Students, Thousands of Faculty/Staff)
Customers Affected: Students, Alumni, Faculty, Staff, Donors and Their Families
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Entity Name: University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Entity Type: Educational Institution
Industry: Higher Education
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Size: Large (Ivy League university, ~1.2M affected individuals)
Customers Affected: 1,200,000 (students, alumni, donors)
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Entity Name: University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Entity Type: Educational Institution
Industry: Higher Education
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Customers Affected: 1.2 million (students, alumni, and donors)
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Entity Name: University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Entity Type: Educational Institution
Industry: Higher Education
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Size: Large (16,000+ employees, 21,000+ students)
Customers Affected: 1,200,000 (students, alumni, donors)
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Entity Name: University of Pennsylvania
Entity Type: Educational Institution
Industry: Higher Education
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Size: Large (20,000+ students, 1.2M+ alumni/donors affected)
Customers Affected: 1,200,000 (claimed; unverified)
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Entity Name: University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Entity Type: educational institution
Industry: higher education
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Customers Affected: former students (alumni); exact number undisclosed
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Entity Name: University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Entity Type: educational institution
Industry: higher education
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Size: large (1.2 million affected individuals: students, alumni, donors)
Customers Affected: 1,200,000
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Entity Name: Penn Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE)
Entity Type: school within university
Industry: education
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Response to the Incidents
What measures were taken in response to each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Incident Response Plan Activated: True
Third Party Assistance: Law Enforcement (Fbi), Third-Party Technical Resources.
Recovery Measures: Investigation in Progress with FBI and Technical Experts
Communication Strategy: Public Statement via University SpokespersonMedia Coverage (The Daily Pennsylvanian, The Verge)
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Third Party Assistance: Legal Firm (Edelson Lechtzin Llp - Investigation).
Communication Strategy: Public disclosure via press releaseAdvisory for affected individuals to monitor accounts
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (breach contained per University statement)
Containment Measures: Breach contained (as of Nov. 2023)
Communication Strategy: Email to community from Joshua Beeman (interim VP of IT and CIO)Dedicated webpage: 'Cybersecurity incident information and FAQ'
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Incident Response Plan Activated: True
Third Party Assistance: Law Enforcement (Fbi), Technical Experts (Unspecified).
Containment Measures: SSO Account RevocationVPN Access RestrictionsSystem Isolation (likely)
Remediation Measures: Forensic InvestigationPassword ResetsEnhanced Monitoring
Recovery Measures: Public Notice (FAQs published)Stakeholder Communication
Communication Strategy: Cybersecurity Incident Notice (Nov. 4, 2025)FAQs for Affected Individuals
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (with third-party cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike)
Third Party Assistance: Crowdstrike (Investigation), Fbi (Reported To Law Enforcement).
Law Enforcement Notified: Yes (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Containment Measures: Systems Locked Down to Prevent Further AccessMass Email Controls Tightened
Remediation Measures: Ongoing Investigation to Determine Exfiltrated DataPassword Resets (Recommended)Permission Audits for Mass Emails
Recovery Measures: All Systems Restored by 2025-11-08Enhanced Monitoring Implemented
Communication Strategy: Public FAQ ReleasedEmails to Community Warning of Phishing RisksMedia Statements via Interim CIO
Enhanced Monitoring: Yes (post-incident)
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Incident Response Plan Activated: True
Third Party Assistance: Crowdstrike (Forensic Review And Defense Reinforcement).
Containment Measures: suspicious activity detected and containedaffected systems isolated
Remediation Measures: systems restored24/7 monitoring implemented
Recovery Measures: all affected systems restored to normal operation
Communication Strategy: official statement releasedpledge for transparency (though alumni claim insufficient details)
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Incident Response Plan Activated: True
Third Party Assistance: Technical Resources (Unspecified), Fbi.
Containment Measures: stopping mass emailssecuring compromised accounts
Remediation Measures: investigation into breach scopesecuring Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Communication Strategy: statements to media (The Daily Pennsylvanian)email to Penn GSE communityacknowledgment of FBI involvement
What is the company's incident response plan?
Incident Response Plan: The company's incident response plan is described as Yes (breach contained per University statement), , Yes (with third-party cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike), , .
How does the company involve third-party assistance in incident response ?
Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through Law Enforcement (FBI), Third-Party Technical Resources, , Legal firm (Edelson Lechtzin LLP - investigation), , Law Enforcement (FBI), Technical Experts (unspecified), , CrowdStrike (Investigation), FBI (Reported to Law Enforcement), , CrowdStrike (forensic review and defense reinforcement), , technical resources (unspecified), FBI, .
Data Breach Information
What type of data was compromised in each breach ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Type of Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information (pii), Internal documents, Donor information, Bank transaction receipts
Sensitivity of Data: High (Includes PII, Financial Data, and Confidential University Records)
File Types Exposed: EmailsPDFs (Memos, Talking Points)Bank Transaction RecordsPotentially Other Document Types
Personally Identifiable Information: NamesEmail AddressesPotentially Other PII (e.g., Financial Details, Donor Information)
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Type of Data Compromised: Personal identifiable information (pii), Internal communications, Donor records, Bank transaction receipts, Contact details (names, addresses)
Number of Records Exposed: 1,200,000
Sensitivity of Data: High (includes financial and personal data)
File Types Exposed: DocumentsEmailsDatabase recordsTransaction logs
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Type of Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information (pii)
Number of Records Exposed: 1.2 million
Sensitivity of Data: High (PII of students, alumni, and donors)
Data Exfiltration: Yes (claimed by hacker)
Personally Identifiable Information: Yes
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Type of Data Compromised: Pii, Financial data, Demographic data, Sensitive personal attributes (race, religion, sexual orientation)
Number of Records Exposed: 1,200,000
Sensitivity of Data: High
File Types Exposed: DatabasesInternal DocumentsMailing Lists
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Type of Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information (pii), Donor financial records, Internal university documents, Bank transactions, Marketing data
Number of Records Exposed: 1,200,000 (claimed; unverified by Penn)
Sensitivity of Data: High (financial, PII, internal communications)
Data Exfiltration: Yes (documents leaked on LeakForum; data threatened for sale)
File Types Exposed: PDFs (Internal Memos)Spreadsheets (Donor/Bank Data)EmailsCRM Exports
Personally Identifiable Information: NamesEmail AddressesDonor ProfilesPotential SSNs/Financial Data (unconfirmed)
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Type of Data Compromised: Personal data, Academic records, Financial records, Alumni/fundraising data
Sensitivity of Data: high (includes PII, academic, and financial records)
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Type of Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information (pii), Financial data (donation history, net worth), Demographic data
Number of Records Exposed: 1,200,000
Sensitivity of Data: high
Personally Identifiable Information: namesraceemail addressesdonation historyestimated net worth
What measures does the company take to prevent data exfiltration ?
Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Forensic Investigation, Password Resets, Enhanced Monitoring, , Ongoing Investigation to Determine Exfiltrated Data, Password Resets (Recommended), Permission Audits for Mass Emails, , systems restored, 24/7 monitoring implemented, , investigation into breach scope, securing Salesforce Marketing Cloud, .
How does the company handle incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) ?
Handling of PII Incidents: The company handles incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) through by breach contained (as of nov. 2023), sso account revocation, vpn access restrictions, system isolation (likely), , systems locked down to prevent further access, mass email controls tightened, , suspicious activity detected and contained, affected systems isolated, , stopping mass emails, securing compromised accounts and .
Ransomware Information
Was ransomware involved in any of the incidents ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Data Exfiltration: True
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Data Exfiltration: True
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Data Exfiltration: True
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Data Exfiltration: Yes (but not ransomware-related; extortion via threatened leak)
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Data Exfiltration: True
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Data Exfiltration: True
How does the company recover data encrypted by ransomware ?
Data Recovery from Ransomware: The company recovers data encrypted by ransomware through Investigation in Progress with FBI and Technical Experts, , Public Notice (FAQs published), Stakeholder Communication, , All Systems Restored by 2025-11-08, Enhanced Monitoring Implemented, , all affected systems restored to normal operation, .
Regulatory Compliance
Were there any regulatory violations and fines imposed for each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Regulations Violated: Potential Violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (Unfair or Deceptive Practices),
Legal Actions: Class-Action Lawsuit Filed by Christopher Kelly (2014 Alumni) on Behalf of Affected Individuals,
Regulatory Notifications: Reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Legal Actions: Class action lawsuit investigation (Edelson Lechtzin LLP),
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Legal Actions: Four class action lawsuits filed (negligence claims),
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Regulations Violated: Potential: FERPA (student records), State Data Breach Laws (e.g., Pennsylvania Breach of Personal Information Notification Act),
Legal Actions: Class Action Lawsuit (investigated by Shamis & Gentile P.A.),
Regulatory Notifications: FBIPossibly state regulators (not specified)
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Legal Actions: Four Lawsuits Filed by Alumni (2025-11-04), Potential Violations of State/Federal Data Protection Laws (e.g., FERPA),
Regulatory Notifications: FBI NotifiedPotential State Attorney General Disclosures (pending)
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Legal Actions: multiple lawsuits filed by former students,
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Legal Actions: FBI investigation ongoing,
Regulatory Notifications: reported to FBI
How does the company ensure compliance with regulatory requirements ?
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: The company ensures compliance with regulatory requirements through Class-Action Lawsuit Filed by Christopher Kelly (2014 Alumni) on Behalf of Affected Individuals, , Class action lawsuit investigation (Edelson Lechtzin LLP), , Four class action lawsuits filed (negligence claims), , Class Action Lawsuit (investigated by Shamis & Gentile P.A.), , Four Lawsuits Filed by Alumni (2025-11-04), Potential Violations of State/Federal Data Protection Laws (e.g., FERPA), , multiple lawsuits filed by former students, , FBI investigation ongoing, .
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
What lessons were learned from each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Lessons Learned: Single Sign-On (SSO) systems require robust MFA and anomaly detection., Mass email systems need multi-person approval and stricter access controls., Donor/financial data should be segmented from general university systems., Proactive credit monitoring/identity protection should be offered post-breach., Transparency in communication is critical to maintain trust during investigations.
What recommendations were made to prevent future incidents ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Recommendations: Monitor financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity, Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all critical accounts, Conduct a thorough review of access controls and credential security, Enhance employee training on phishing and social engineering attacks, Establish a clear incident response and communication plan for future breachesMonitor financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity, Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all critical accounts, Conduct a thorough review of access controls and credential security, Enhance employee training on phishing and social engineering attacks, Establish a clear incident response and communication plan for future breachesMonitor financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity, Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all critical accounts, Conduct a thorough review of access controls and credential security, Enhance employee training on phishing and social engineering attacks, Establish a clear incident response and communication plan for future breachesMonitor financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity, Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all critical accounts, Conduct a thorough review of access controls and credential security, Enhance employee training on phishing and social engineering attacks, Establish a clear incident response and communication plan for future breachesMonitor financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity, Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all critical accounts, Conduct a thorough review of access controls and credential security, Enhance employee training on phishing and social engineering attacks, Establish a clear incident response and communication plan for future breaches
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Recommendations: Implement Stronger MFA for SSO/VPN Access, Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training (Phishing Resistance), Enhance Monitoring for Unauthorized Data Exfiltration, Segment Critical Systems to Limit Lateral Movement, Offer Credit Monitoring/Identity Theft Protection to Affected IndividualsImplement Stronger MFA for SSO/VPN Access, Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training (Phishing Resistance), Enhance Monitoring for Unauthorized Data Exfiltration, Segment Critical Systems to Limit Lateral Movement, Offer Credit Monitoring/Identity Theft Protection to Affected IndividualsImplement Stronger MFA for SSO/VPN Access, Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training (Phishing Resistance), Enhance Monitoring for Unauthorized Data Exfiltration, Segment Critical Systems to Limit Lateral Movement, Offer Credit Monitoring/Identity Theft Protection to Affected IndividualsImplement Stronger MFA for SSO/VPN Access, Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training (Phishing Resistance), Enhance Monitoring for Unauthorized Data Exfiltration, Segment Critical Systems to Limit Lateral Movement, Offer Credit Monitoring/Identity Theft Protection to Affected IndividualsImplement Stronger MFA for SSO/VPN Access, Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training (Phishing Resistance), Enhance Monitoring for Unauthorized Data Exfiltration, Segment Critical Systems to Limit Lateral Movement, Offer Credit Monitoring/Identity Theft Protection to Affected Individuals
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Recommendations: Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community.Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community.Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community.Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community.Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community.Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community.Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community.
What are the key lessons learned from past incidents ?
Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are Single Sign-On (SSO) systems require robust MFA and anomaly detection.,Mass email systems need multi-person approval and stricter access controls.,Donor/financial data should be segmented from general university systems.,Proactive credit monitoring/identity protection should be offered post-breach.,Transparency in communication is critical to maintain trust during investigations.
What recommendations has the company implemented to improve cybersecurity ?
Implemented Recommendations: The company has implemented the following recommendations to improve cybersecurity: Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community., Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks. and Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals..
References
Where can I find more information about each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Source: The Verge
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Source: Class-Action Lawsuit Filing (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania)
Date Accessed: 2023-11-03
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Source: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Press Release
URL: https://www.edelson-law.com
Date Accessed: 2025-11-04
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Source: University of Pennsylvania Community Email (Joshua Beeman)
Date Accessed: 2023-11-02 (approximate)
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Source: Shamis & Gentile P.A. Investigation Notice
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Source: University of Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Incident Notice (Nov. 4, 2025)
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Source: Technical.ly
URL: https://technical.ly/philly/2025/11/05/university-of-pennsylvania-hack-data-breach/
Date Accessed: 2025-11-08
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Source: The Verge
URL: https://www.theverge.com/2025/11/6/23945678/penn-hackers-donor-data-leak-forum-sale
Date Accessed: 2025-11-07
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Source: Daily Pennsylvanian
URL: https://www.thedp.com/2025/11/05/penn-hack-lawsuit-alumni-data-breach
Date Accessed: 2025-11-08
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Source: Penn FAQ on the Incident
URL: https://www.upenn.edu/2025-email-breach-faq
Date Accessed: 2025-11-08
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Source: NBC Philadelphia
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Source: University of Pennsylvania official statement
Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?
Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian, and Source: The Verge, and Source: Class-Action Lawsuit Filing (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania)Date Accessed: 2023-11-03, and Source: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Press ReleaseUrl: https://www.edelson-law.comDate Accessed: 2025-11-04, and Source: The Daily Pennsylvanian, and Source: BleepingComputerDate Accessed: 2023-11-02, and Source: University of Pennsylvania Community Email (Joshua Beeman)Date Accessed: 2023-11-02 (approximate), and Source: Shamis & Gentile P.A. Investigation Notice, and Source: University of Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Incident Notice (Nov. 4, 2025), and Source: Technical.lyUrl: https://technical.ly/philly/2025/11/05/university-of-pennsylvania-hack-data-breach/Date Accessed: 2025-11-08, and Source: Bleeping ComputerUrl: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/university-of-pennsylvania-hackers-claim-to-have-stolen-data-of-12-million/Date Accessed: 2025-11-07, and Source: The VergeUrl: https://www.theverge.com/2025/11/6/23945678/penn-hackers-donor-data-leak-forum-saleDate Accessed: 2025-11-07, and Source: Daily PennsylvanianUrl: https://www.thedp.com/2025/11/05/penn-hack-lawsuit-alumni-data-breachDate Accessed: 2025-11-08, and Source: Penn FAQ on the IncidentUrl: https://www.upenn.edu/2025-email-breach-faqDate Accessed: 2025-11-08, and Source: NBC Philadelphia, and Source: University of Pennsylvania official statement, and Source: The Daily PennsylvanianDate Accessed: 2023-11-03, and Source: BleepingComputerDate Accessed: 2023-11-03.
Investigation Status
What is the current status of the investigation for each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Investigation Status: Ongoing (Collaboration with FBI and Third-Party Technical Experts)
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Investigation Status: Ongoing (class action investigation by Edelson Lechtzin LLP)
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Investigation Status: Ongoing (University investigating 'nature of the information' obtained)
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Investigation Status: Ongoing (FBI and internal investigation)
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Investigation Status: Ongoing (as of 2025-11-08); Penn has not verified the full scope of exfiltrated data.
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Investigation Status: ongoing (FBI and CrowdStrike involved)
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Investigation Status: ongoing (Penn IT and Crisis Response Teams, FBI involved)
How does the company communicate the status of incident investigations to stakeholders ?
Communication of Investigation Status: The company communicates the status of incident investigations to stakeholders through Public Statement Via University Spokesperson, Media Coverage (The Daily Pennsylvanian, The Verge), Public Disclosure Via Press Release, Advisory For Affected Individuals To Monitor Accounts, Email To Community From Joshua Beeman (Interim Vp Of It And Cio), Dedicated Webpage: 'Cybersecurity Incident Information And Faq', Cybersecurity Incident Notice (Nov. 4, 2025), Faqs For Affected Individuals, Public Faq Released, Emails To Community Warning Of Phishing Risks, Media Statements Via Interim Cio, Official Statement Released, Pledge For Transparency (Though Alumni Claim Insufficient Details), Statements To Media (The Daily Pennsylvanian), Email To Penn Gse Community and Acknowledgment Of Fbi Involvement.
Stakeholder and Customer Advisories
Were there any advisories issued to stakeholders or customers for each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Stakeholder Advisories: Public Statement By University Spokesperson Acknowledging Breach And Fbi Involvement.
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Stakeholder Advisories: Affected Individuals Advised To Monitor Accounts For Identity Theft.
Customer Advisories: Public notification via press releaseLegal firm contact provided for affected parties
Incident : Data Breach PEN1962019110525
Stakeholder Advisories: Email To Community (Nov. 2023), Dedicated Webpage: 'Cybersecurity Incident Information And Faq'.
Customer Advisories: Email to community (Nov. 2023)Dedicated webpage: 'Cybersecurity incident information and FAQ'
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Stakeholder Advisories: Public Faqs, Lawyer-Led Compensation Claims.
Customer Advisories: Monitor for Identity TheftReport Suspicious ActivityConsider Credit Freezes
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Stakeholder Advisories: Force Password Resets For All Pennkey Users., Audit And Restrict Permissions For Mass Email Systems., Monitor Dark Web For Leaked Penn Data., Prepare For Potential Regulatory Inquiries (E.G., Ftc, State Ags)..
Customer Advisories: Place a **credit freeze** via Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.Enable **MFA on all accounts** (especially email/banking).Monitor accounts for **suspicious transactions**.Avoid clicking links in **unsolicited emails/calls**.Review **Penn’s FAQ** for updates: [https://www.upenn.edu/2025-email-breach-faq](https://www.upenn.edu/2025-email-breach-faq).
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Stakeholder Advisories: Official Statement Released; Details Limited.
Customer Advisories: alumni notified of breach; specific details on compromised data not disclosed
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Stakeholder Advisories: Email To Penn Gse Community, Statements To Media.
Customer Advisories: warning about scam emailsassurance of ongoing investigation
What advisories does the company provide to stakeholders and customers following an incident ?
Advisories Provided: The company provides the following advisories to stakeholders and customers following an incident: were Public Statement By University Spokesperson Acknowledging Breach And Fbi Involvement, Affected Individuals Advised To Monitor Accounts For Identity Theft, Public Notification Via Press Release, Legal Firm Contact Provided For Affected Parties, , Email To Community (Nov. 2023), Dedicated Webpage: 'Cybersecurity Incident Information And Faq', Email To Community (Nov. 2023), Dedicated Webpage: 'Cybersecurity Incident Information And Faq', , Public Faqs, Lawyer-Led Compensation Claims, Monitor For Identity Theft, Report Suspicious Activity, Consider Credit Freezes, , Force Password Resets For All Pennkey Users., Audit And Restrict Permissions For Mass Email Systems., Monitor Dark Web For Leaked Penn Data., Prepare For Potential Regulatory Inquiries (E.G., Ftc, State Ags)., Place A **Credit Freeze** Via Equifax, Experian, And Transunion., Enable **Mfa On All Accounts** (Especially Email/Banking)., Monitor Accounts For **Suspicious Transactions**., Avoid Clicking Links In **Unsolicited Emails/Calls**., Review **Penn’S Faq** For Updates: [Https://Www.Upenn.Edu/2025-Email-Breach-Faq](Https://Www.Upenn.Edu/2025-Email-Breach-Faq)., , Official Statement Released; Details Limited, Alumni Notified Of Breach; Specific Details On Compromised Data Not Disclosed, , Email To Penn Gse Community, Statements To Media, Warning About Scam Emails, Assurance Of Ongoing Investigation and .
Initial Access Broker
How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Entry Point: Compromised Email Accounts (Phishing/Spam), Weak Authentication System,
High Value Targets: Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (Donors And Their Families),
Data Sold on Dark Web: Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (Donors And Their Families),
Incident : Data Breach PEN1803818110525
Entry Point: Compromised PennKey account (employee credentials)
High Value Targets: Student/Alumni/Donor Databases, Internal Communications, Financial Records,
Data Sold on Dark Web: Student/Alumni/Donor Databases, Internal Communications, Financial Records,
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Entry Point: Compromised PennKey SSO Account
High Value Targets: Student/Alumni Donor Databases, Financial/Demographic Records,
Data Sold on Dark Web: Student/Alumni Donor Databases, Financial/Demographic Records,
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Entry Point: Compromised PennKey (SSO) account via social engineering
Reconnaissance Period: Unknown (but hackers claimed Penn’s 'weak authentication' made it easy)
High Value Targets: Donor Databases, Bank Transaction Records, Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individual Profiles,
Data Sold on Dark Web: Donor Databases, Bank Transaction Records, Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individual Profiles,
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Entry Point: social engineering (identity impersonation via email system)
High Value Targets: Fundraising Databases, Alumni Records,
Data Sold on Dark Web: Fundraising Databases, Alumni Records,
Incident : data breach PEN5203252111925
Entry Point: compromised employee account
High Value Targets: Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Donor And Alumni Databases,
Data Sold on Dark Web: Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Donor And Alumni Databases,
Post-Incident Analysis
What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident ?
Incident : Data Breach PEN3394633110425
Root Causes: Inadequate Data Security System, Weak Authentication Protocols, Failure To Monitor For Existing Threats, Vendor Security Gaps,
Incident : Data Breach PEN4092440110525
Root Causes: Inadequate Authentication Controls, Lack Of Behavioral Anomaly Detection, Overprivileged Access (Vpn/Salesforce),
Incident : Data Breach PEN3232532110625
Root Causes: Lack Of Mfa On Pennkey Sso Accounts., Over-Permissive Access To Crm/Donor Systems., Inadequate Controls For Mass Email Sending., Social Engineering Vulnerability (Employee Tricked Into Sharing Credentials)., Delayed Public Disclosure Of Breach Details.,
Corrective Actions: Mandatory Mfa Rollout For All University Systems., Segmentation Of Donor/Financial Data From General Networks., Two-Person Approval For Mass Emails/Data Exports., Enhanced Monitoring For Anomalous Logins/Exports., Third-Party Security Audit Of Pennkey And Crm Systems.,
Incident : data breach PEN0862408110725
Root Causes: Social Engineering (Identity Impersonation), Inadequate Preventive Measures (Per Lawsuits),
Corrective Actions: Hired Crowdstrike For Forensic Review, Strengthened Monitoring And Internal Processes,
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 Law Enforcement (Fbi), Third-Party Technical Resources, , Legal Firm (Edelson Lechtzin Llp - Investigation), , Law Enforcement (Fbi), Technical Experts (Unspecified), , , Crowdstrike (Investigation), Fbi (Reported To Law Enforcement), , Yes (post-incident), Crowdstrike (Forensic Review And Defense Reinforcement), , , Technical Resources (Unspecified), Fbi, .
What corrective actions has the company taken based on post-incident analysis ?
Corrective Actions Taken: The company has taken the following corrective actions based on post-incident analysis: Mandatory Mfa Rollout For All University Systems., Segmentation Of Donor/Financial Data From General Networks., Two-Person Approval For Mass Emails/Data Exports., Enhanced Monitoring For Anomalous Logins/Exports., Third-Party Security Audit Of Pennkey And Crm Systems., , Hired Crowdstrike For Forensic Review, Strengthened Monitoring And Internal Processes, .
Additional Questions
General Information
Who was the attacking group in the last incident ?
Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident were an Name: Unnamed hacker(s)Claim: Responsibility for stealing data from 1.2 million individuals and Unknown (financially motivated)Allegedly targeted ultra-high-net-worth donor data.
Incident Details
What was the most recent incident detected ?
Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on 2023-10-31.
What was the most recent incident publicly disclosed ?
Most Recent Incident Publicly Disclosed: The most recent incident publicly disclosed was on 2023-11-03.
What was the most recent incident resolved ?
Most Recent Incident Resolved: The most recent incident resolved was on 2025-11-08.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the most significant data compromised in an incident ?
Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Internal University Talking Points, Donor Memos and Family Information, Bank Transaction Receipts, , , Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of students, alumni, and donors, , Names, Dates of Birth, Addresses, Phone Numbers, Financial/Demographic Information (net worth, donation history), Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation, , Donor Records, Bank Transactions, Internal Memos, Student/Alumni/Donor PII (claimed 1.2M records), Marketing Cloud Data, File Repository Contents, , personal data, academic histories, financial records, alumni/fundraising database records, , donation history, estimated donor net worth, demographic details (names, race), email addresses and .
What was the most significant system affected in an incident ?
Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident was Email AccountsUniversity Data Systems (Potentially Vendor Systems) and University computer networkPennKey account system and Select information systems and VPNSalesforceAnalytics PlatformsInternal FilesMailing List Platform and PennKey SSOCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)File RepositoriesReporting ApplicationMarketing CloudGraduate School of Education Email System and email system (Graduate School of Education)fundraising systemsalumni databases and Salesforce Marketing Cloudselect University information systems.
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 law enforcement (fbi), third-party technical resources, , legal firm (edelson lechtzin llp - investigation), , law enforcement (fbi), technical experts (unspecified), , crowdstrike (investigation), fbi (reported to law enforcement), , crowdstrike (forensic review and defense reinforcement), , technical resources (unspecified), fbi, .
What containment measures were taken in the most recent incident ?
Containment Measures in Most Recent Incident: The containment measures taken in the most recent incident were Breach contained (as of Nov. 2023), SSO Account RevocationVPN Access RestrictionsSystem Isolation (likely), Systems Locked Down to Prevent Further AccessMass Email Controls Tightened, suspicious activity detected and containedaffected systems isolated and stopping mass emailssecuring compromised accounts.
Data Breach Information
What was the most sensitive data compromised in a breach ?
Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were demographic details (names, race), Bank Transactions, Phone Numbers, Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of students, alumni, and donors, Race, Sexual Orientation, email addresses, Religion, alumni/fundraising database records, estimated donor net worth, Donor Records, Donor Memos and Family Information, academic histories, Internal Memos, Addresses, File Repository Contents, personal data, Marketing Cloud Data, Internal University Talking Points, Dates of Birth, Financial/Demographic Information (net worth, donation history), Student/Alumni/Donor PII (claimed 1.2M records), Names, Bank Transaction Receipts, financial records, donation history and Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
What was the number of records exposed in the most significant breach ?
Number of Records Exposed in Most Significant Breach: The number of records exposed in the most significant breach was 6.0M.
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 Class-Action Lawsuit Filed by Christopher Kelly (2014 Alumni) on Behalf of Affected Individuals, , Class action lawsuit investigation (Edelson Lechtzin LLP), , Four class action lawsuits filed (negligence claims), , Class Action Lawsuit (investigated by Shamis & Gentile P.A.), , Four Lawsuits Filed by Alumni (2025-11-04), Potential Violations of State/Federal Data Protection Laws (e.g., FERPA), , multiple lawsuits filed by former students, , FBI investigation ongoing, .
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
What was the most significant lesson learned from past incidents ?
Most Significant Lesson Learned: The most significant lesson learned from past incidents was Transparency in communication is critical to maintain trust during investigations.
What was the most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity ?
Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was Conduct a thorough review of access controls and credential security, Conduct a **full audit of SSO permissions** and reduce over-privileged access., Establish a clear incident response and communication plan for future breaches, Implement Stronger MFA for SSO/VPN Access, Establish **two-person approval** for mass emails and data exports., Enhance **phishing training** for staff/students to prevent social engineering., Publish a **detailed post-mortem** to rebuild trust with the community., Enhance employee training on phishing and social engineering attacks, Implement **universal MFA** for all PennKey accounts., Monitor financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity, Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all critical accounts, Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training (Phishing Resistance), Isolate **donor/financial systems** from general university networks., Enhance Monitoring for Unauthorized Data Exfiltration, Segment Critical Systems to Limit Lateral Movement, Offer **free credit freezes/identity protection** to affected individuals. and Offer Credit Monitoring/Identity Theft Protection to Affected Individuals.
References
What is the most recent source of information about an incident ?
Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident are BleepingComputer, University of Pennsylvania official statement, The Verge, Edelson Lechtzin LLP Press Release, Class-Action Lawsuit Filing (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania), Shamis & Gentile P.A. Investigation Notice, Technical.ly, NBC Philadelphia, The Daily Pennsylvanian, Daily Pennsylvanian, Bleeping Computer, University of Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Incident Notice (Nov. 4, 2025), University of Pennsylvania Community Email (Joshua Beeman) and Penn FAQ on the Incident.
What is the most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?
Most Recent URL for Additional Resources: The most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices is https://www.edelson-law.com, https://technical.ly/philly/2025/11/05/university-of-pennsylvania-hack-data-breach/, https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/university-of-pennsylvania-hackers-claim-to-have-stolen-data-of-12-million/, https://www.theverge.com/2025/11/6/23945678/penn-hackers-donor-data-leak-forum-sale, https://www.thedp.com/2025/11/05/penn-hack-lawsuit-alumni-data-breach, https://www.upenn.edu/2025-email-breach-faq .
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 (Collaboration with FBI and Third-Party Technical Experts).
Stakeholder and Customer Advisories
What was the most recent stakeholder advisory issued ?
Most Recent Stakeholder Advisory: The most recent stakeholder advisory issued was Public Statement by University Spokesperson Acknowledging Breach and FBI Involvement, Affected individuals advised to monitor accounts for identity theft, Email to community (Nov. 2023), Dedicated webpage: 'Cybersecurity incident information and FAQ', Public FAQs, Lawyer-Led Compensation Claims, Force password resets for all PennKey users., Audit and restrict permissions for mass email systems., Monitor dark web for leaked Penn data., Prepare for potential regulatory inquiries (e.g., FTC, state AGs)., official statement released; details limited, email to Penn GSE community, statements to media, .
What was the most recent customer advisory issued ?
Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued were an Public notification via press releaseLegal firm contact provided for affected parties, Email to community (Nov. 2023)Dedicated webpage: 'Cybersecurity incident information and FAQ', Monitor for Identity TheftReport Suspicious ActivityConsider Credit Freezes, Place a **credit freeze** via Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.Enable **MFA on all accounts** (especially email/banking).Monitor accounts for **suspicious transactions**.Avoid clicking links in **unsolicited emails/calls**.Review **Penn’s FAQ** for updates: [https://www.upenn.edu/2025-email-breach-faq](https://www.upenn.edu/2025-email-breach-faq)., alumni notified of breach; specific details on compromised data not disclosed and warning about scam emailsassurance of ongoing investigation.
Initial Access Broker
What was the most recent entry point used by an initial access broker ?
Most Recent Entry Point: The most recent entry point used by an initial access broker were an compromised employee account, Compromised PennKey SSO Account, social engineering (identity impersonation via email system), Compromised PennKey (SSO) account via social engineering and Compromised PennKey account (employee credentials).
What was the most recent reconnaissance period for an incident ?
Most Recent Reconnaissance Period: The most recent reconnaissance period for an incident was Unknown (but hackers claimed Penn’s 'weak authentication' made it easy).
Post-Incident Analysis
What was the most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis ?
Most Significant Root Cause: The most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis was Inadequate Data Security SystemWeak Authentication ProtocolsFailure to Monitor for Existing ThreatsVendor Security Gaps, Inadequate Authentication ControlsLack of Behavioral Anomaly DetectionOverprivileged Access (VPN/Salesforce), Lack of MFA on PennKey SSO accounts.Over-permissive access to CRM/donor systems.Inadequate controls for mass email sending.Social engineering vulnerability (employee tricked into sharing credentials).Delayed public disclosure of breach details., social engineering (identity impersonation)inadequate preventive measures (per lawsuits).
What was the most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis ?
Most Significant Corrective Action: The most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis was Mandatory MFA rollout for all university systems.Segmentation of donor/financial data from general networks.Two-person approval for mass emails/data exports.Enhanced monitoring for anomalous logins/exports.Third-party security audit of PennKey and CRM systems., hired CrowdStrike for forensic reviewstrengthened monitoring and internal processes.
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