WSU
Company Details
Linkedin ID:
western-sydney-university
Website:
Employees number:
6,593
Number of followers:
182,337
NAICS:
6113
Industry Type:
Homepage:
westernsydney.edu.au
IP Addresses:
0
Company ID:
WES_1126629
Scan Status:
In-progress
Western Sydney University Company CyberSecurity Posture
westernsydney.edu.au
Located in the heart of one of Australia’s fastest growing economic regions, Western Sydney University offers unlimited potential to students with the talent, drive and ambition to succeed. Ranked amongst the top two per cent of universities in the world, we value academic excellence, integrity and the pursuit of knowledge. We are globally focused, research-led and committed to making a positive impact on the communities we engage with. CRICOS Provider No: 00917K
Western Sydney University A.I CyberSecurity Scoring
WSU Risk Score (AI oriented)Between 700 and 749
WSU
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WSU Global Score (TPRM)XXXX
WSU
- Instant access to detailed risk factors
- Benchmark vs. industry & size peers
- Vulnerabilities
- Findings
WSU Company CyberSecurity News & History
Past Incidents
2
Attack Types
2
Western Sydney University
Breach
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks
Description: WSU has faced multiple security incidents exposing personal data of its community members. Access to demographic, enrollment, and progression information of roughly 10,000 current and former students was gained via an SSO system breach. A separate dark web leak included names, contact details, birth dates, health data, government IDs, and bank info of 7,500 individuals. Hackers held network access from July 9, 2023, to March 16, 2024, accessing 580 TB of data.
Western Sydney University
Cyber Attack
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack limited on finance or reputation
Description: Western Sydney University (WSU) was targeted by a **mass phishing scam** where fraudulent emails were sent to students and alumni, falsely claiming their degrees had been revoked or their enrolments terminated. The emails, sent from compromised or spoofed university accounts, caused widespread panic among recipients, including graduates and current students. One email referenced a fabricated 'Parking Permits' breach, alleging a student exploited system vulnerabilities to create fake permits and access email addresses—highlighting potential security flaws in WSU’s infrastructure. While the university confirmed the emails were fraudulent and notified NSW Police, the incident raised concerns about **data integrity, reputational damage, and psychological distress** among affected individuals. The attack follows a prior breach earlier in the year, where a former student leaked **personal data of ~10,000 students** on the dark web. Though no confirmation exists of additional data being stolen in this scam, the repeated targeting underscores systemic vulnerabilities. The university’s response focused on damage control, apologizing for the distress and assuring victims of the emails’ illegitimacy, but operational disruptions (e.g., helpdesk inquiries, media scrutiny) and erosion of trust in institutional communications were inevitable.
WSU 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 WSU
Incidents vs Higher Education Industry Average (This Year)
Western Sydney University has 26.58% more incidents than the average of same-industry companies with at least one recorded incident.
Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)
Western Sydney University has 28.21% more incidents than the average of all companies with at least one recorded incident.
Incident Types WSU vs Higher Education Industry Avg (This Year)
Western Sydney University reported 1 incidents this year: 1 cyber attacks, 0 ransomware, 0 vulnerabilities, 0 data breaches, compared to industry peers with at least 1 incident.
Incident History — WSU (X = Date, Y = Severity)
WSU cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries
WSU Company Subsidiaries
Located in the heart of one of Australia’s fastest growing economic regions, Western Sydney University offers unlimited potential to students with the talent, drive and ambition to succeed. Ranked amongst the top two per cent of universities in the world, we value academic excellence, integrity and the pursuit of knowledge. We are globally focused, research-led and committed to making a positive impact on the communities we engage with. CRICOS Provider No: 00917K
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WSU CyberSecurity News
December 05, 2025 09:14 AM
Former Student Charged in Western Sydney University Cyberattacks
Former student charged after years of Western Sydney University cyberattacks involving data theft, system breaches and fraudulent emails to...
December 05, 2025 08:00 AM
Alleged Sydney uni hacker charged with additional cyber crimes
In short: A former Western Sydney University student already charged with hacking into the institution's servers allegedly continued to break...
December 05, 2025 04:19 AM
Former student charged over series of Western Sydney University cyber attacks
Student charged over university cyberattack ... A former Western Sydney University student has been charged over a series of alleged cyberattacks...
October 28, 2025 07:00 AM
Western Sydney Uni suffers data breach, again
Students and staff have had their sensitive information stolen in the latest of a series of cyberattacks plaguing Western Sydney University...
October 23, 2025 07:00 AM
Western Sydney University 'statement on cyber incident'
Western Sydney University is today able to advise its community of personal information that was previously impacted by a cyber incident and...
October 23, 2025 07:00 AM
Aussie uni reels from major cyber attack
Western Sydney University has suffered a major cyber breach, with hackers stealing a range of sensitive student information from tax file...
October 21, 2025 07:00 AM
University pulls up cyber CEO over 'Adjunct Professor' claim
An Australian cyber CEO says he was mistakenly referring to himself as an Adjunct Professor due to an “administrative oversight”,...
October 18, 2025 07:00 AM
‘Incorrect representation’: Cyber CEO forced to stop using uni title
A cybersecurity expert and CEO has been forced to stop using the term Adjunct Professor by a major Australian university.
October 09, 2025 07:00 AM
Western Sydney University vice-chancellor apologises for cyber lapses, says ‘risk will remain’
Western Sydney University's vice-chancellor says no data was stolen after fraudulent emails claiming degrees had been revoked were sent from...
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.
WSU CyberSecurity History Information
Official Website of Western Sydney University
The official website of Western Sydney University is http://www.westernsydney.edu.au.
Western Sydney University’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score
According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 719, reflecting their Moderate security posture.
How many security badges does Western Sydney University’ have ?
According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University currently holds 0 security badges, indicating that no recognized compliance certifications are currently verified for the organization.
Does Western Sydney University have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.
Does Western Sydney University have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.
Does Western Sydney University comply with GDPR ?
According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University is not listed as GDPR compliant.
Does Western Sydney University have PCI DSS certification ?
According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.
Does Western Sydney University comply with HIPAA ?
According to Rankiteo, Western Sydney University is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.
Does Western Sydney University have ISO 27001 certification ?
According to Rankiteo,Western Sydney University is not certified under ISO 27001, indicating the absence of a formally recognized information security management framework.
Industry Classification of Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University operates primarily in the Higher Education industry.
Number of Employees at Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University employs approximately 6,593 people worldwide.
Subsidiaries Owned by Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.
Western Sydney University’s LinkedIn Followers
Western Sydney University’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 182,337 followers.
NAICS Classification of Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University is classified under the NAICS code 6113, which corresponds to Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools.
Western Sydney University’s Presence on Crunchbase
No, Western Sydney University does not have a profile on Crunchbase.
Western Sydney University’s Presence on LinkedIn
Yes, Western Sydney University maintains an official LinkedIn profile, which is actively utilized for branding and talent engagement, which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-sydney-university.
Cybersecurity Incidents Involving Western Sydney University
As of December 22, 2025, Rankiteo reports that Western Sydney University has experienced 2 cybersecurity incidents.
Number of Peer and Competitor Companies
Western Sydney University has an estimated 14,869 peer or competitor companies worldwide.
What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at Western Sydney University ?
Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Breach and Cyber Attack.
How does Western Sydney University detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?
Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an third party assistance with nsw police, and and containment measures with communication to affected individuals to clarify fraudulent nature of emails, and communication strategy with public statement via media (9news.com.au), communication strategy with direct outreach to affected students and alumni..
Incident Details
Can you provide details on each incident ?
Title: WSU Security Incidents
Description: Multiple security incidents at WSU exposed personal data of its community members. Access to demographic, enrollment, and progression information of roughly 10,000 current and former students was gained via an SSO system breach. A separate dark web leak included names, contact details, birth dates, health data, government IDs, and bank info of 7,500 individuals. Hackers held network access from July 9, 2023, to March 16, 2024, accessing 580 TB of data.
Type: data breach
Attack Vector: SSO system breachdark web leak
Title: Western Sydney University Mass Email Scam and Fraudulent Degree Revocation Notices
Description: Western Sydney University (WSU) was targeted by a scam involving mass emails sent to students and alumni, falsely claiming their degrees had been revoked or their enrolments canceled. Some emails also highlighted alleged security vulnerabilities, such as the exploitation of parking permit systems. The university confirmed the emails were fraudulent and reported the incident to NSW Police. This follows a prior data breach earlier in the year where 10,000 students' personal data was exposed on the dark web.
Type: phishing
Attack Vector: email spoofingexploitation of system vulnerabilities (alleged)
Vulnerability Exploited: potential weaknesses in email system securityalleged exploitation of parking permit system to gain unauthorized access
Motivation: frauddisruptionpotential financial gain (unconfirmed)reputation damage
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 or spoofed email accountspotential exploitation of parking permit system vulnerabilities.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the impact of each incident ?
Incident : data breach WES944041125
Data Compromised: Demographic information, Enrollment information, Progression information, Names, Contact details, Birth dates, Health data, Government ids, Bank info
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Systems Affected: email systempotentially parking permit system
Operational Impact: increased support inquiriesreputation damage controlpolice investigation
Customer Complaints: ['reports from students and alumni about fraudulent emails']
Brand Reputation Impact: negative media coverageloss of trust among students and alumnipublic apology issued
Legal Liabilities: ongoing police investigationpotential legal actions from affected individuals
What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents ?
Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Demographic Information, Enrollment Information, Progression Information, Names, Contact Details, Birth Dates, Health Data, Government Ids, Bank Info and .
Which entities were affected by each incident ?
Incident : data breach WES944041125
Entity Name: WSU
Entity Type: university
Industry: education
Customers Affected: 10,000 current and former students, 7,500 individuals
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Entity Name: Western Sydney University
Entity Type: educational institution
Industry: higher education
Location: Sydney, Australia
Customers Affected: students, alumni
Response to the Incidents
What measures were taken in response to each incident ?
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Incident Response Plan Activated: True
Third Party Assistance: Nsw Police.
Containment Measures: communication to affected individuals to clarify fraudulent nature of emails
Communication Strategy: public statement via media (9news.com.au)direct outreach to affected students and alumni
How does the company involve third-party assistance in incident response ?
Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through NSW Police, .
Data Breach Information
What type of data was compromised in each breach ?
Incident : data breach WES944041125
Type of Data Compromised: Demographic information, Enrollment information, Progression information, Names, Contact details, Birth dates, Health data, Government ids, Bank info
Number of Records Exposed: 10,000, 7,500
Personally Identifiable Information: namescontact detailsbirth dateshealth datagovernment IDsbank info
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 communication to affected individuals to clarify fraudulent nature of emails and .
Regulatory Compliance
Were there any regulatory violations and fines imposed for each incident ?
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Legal Actions: ongoing police investigation,
How does the company ensure compliance with regulatory requirements ?
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: The company ensures compliance with regulatory requirements through ongoing police investigation, .
References
Where can I find more information about each incident ?
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Source: 9news.com.au
Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?
Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: 9news.com.auUrl: https://www.9news.com.au/national/western-sydney-university-scams-emails-students-alumni-degrees-revoked/abc123456-def7-8901-2345-6789abcdef01.
Investigation Status
What is the current status of the investigation for each incident ?
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Investigation Status: ongoing (NSW Police investigation)
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 Media (9News.Com.Au) and Direct Outreach To Affected Students And Alumni.
Stakeholder and Customer Advisories
Were there any advisories issued to stakeholders or customers for each incident ?
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Stakeholder Advisories: Public Statement To Media, Direct Communication To Affected Students And Alumni.
Customer Advisories: emails sent to clarify the fraudulent nature of the scam
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 To Media, Direct Communication To Affected Students And Alumni, Emails Sent To Clarify The Fraudulent Nature Of The Scam and .
Initial Access Broker
How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident ?
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Entry Point: Compromised Or Spoofed Email Accounts, Potential Exploitation Of Parking Permit System Vulnerabilities,
High Value Targets: Student And Alumni Email Lists, University Systems (Alleged),
Data Sold on Dark Web: Student And Alumni Email Lists, University Systems (Alleged),
Post-Incident Analysis
What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident ?
Incident : phishing WES2702027100725
Root Causes: Inadequate Email Authentication Measures (E.G., Dmarc, Spf, Dkim), Potential Vulnerabilities In Auxiliary Systems (E.G., Parking Permits), Lack Of Multi-Factor Authentication For Critical Systems,
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 Nsw Police, .
Additional Questions
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 demographic information, enrollment information, progression information, names, contact details, birth dates, health data, government IDs, bank info 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 systempotentially parking permit system.
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 nsw police, .
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 was communication to affected individuals to clarify fraudulent nature of emails.
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 contact details, bank info, birth dates, enrollment information, government IDs, demographic information, health data, progression information and names.
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 17.5K.
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 ongoing police investigation, .
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 9news.com.au.
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.9news.com.au/national/western-sydney-university-scams-emails-students-alumni-degrees-revoked/abc123456-def7-8901-2345-6789abcdef01 .
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 (NSW Police investigation).
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 to media, direct communication to affected students and alumni, .
What was the most recent customer advisory issued ?
Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued was an emails sent to clarify the fraudulent nature of the scam.
Initial Access Broker
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References
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- https://github.com/z472421519/BinaryAudit/blob/main/PoC/BOF/Tenda_FH1201/SetIpBind/SetIpBind.md#reproduce
- https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.337689
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- https://vuldb.com/?submit.719154
- https://www.tenda.com.cn/
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RapidWhat Do We Measure ?
Incident
Finding
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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.
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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.
Rankiteo is a unified scoring and risk platform that analyzes billions of signals weekly to help organizations gain faster, more actionable insights into emerging threats. Empowering teams to outpace adversaries and reduce exposure.
