UC Berkeley restricted access to the online\u00a0systems in the department of electrical engineering and computer sciences after Berkeley IT identified suspicious activity across the department\u2019s networks.<\/p>\n
According to a statement by campus spokesperson Janet Gilmore, the activity has not been linked to any \u201cknown threat actors.\u201d Campus is currently investigating if any data may have been exposed during the incident, as well as the incident\u2019s \u201cscope and potential impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gilmore said the activity was discovered using the \u201cuniversity\u2019s security software,\u201d endpoint detection and response.<\/p>\n
This cybersecurity software monitors organizations\u2019 endpoints, such as laptops, desktops, servers and mobile devices, which often serve as entry points for attackers. It works to secure those endpoints, increase their visibility and identify threats.<\/p>\n
Restricting EECS networks was a part of a \u201ccomprehensive security protocol,\u201d Gilmore said in the statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Central campus IT networks were not affected by the incident, according to Gilmore.<\/p>\n
Gilmore said disruptions to faculty and staff IT are a result of \u201ccampus actions to protect EECS systems.\u201d She added that IT has provided \u201calternative access pathways\u201d for faculty and staff to access needed systems and functions.<\/p>\n
After the activity on EECS systems, IT staff \u201cquickly restored instructional services\u201d for EECS courses, according to Gilmore.<\/p>\n
EECS continuing lecturer Michael Ball said in an email certain services were offline for the first several days of the semester, but it did not greatly affect his courses, which he said \u201cdon\u2019t currently rely on EECS infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n