Columbia University Data Breach Investigation

The data breach lawyers at The Lyon Firm are investigating the recent data security incident at Columbia University that may have compromised a large amount of personal data. An individual taking credit for the hack informed news sources that they have accessed and acquired around 460GB of data, including at least 1.8 million Social Security numbers belonging to faculty, staff, applicants and students.

Contact our attorneys to discuss the next steps following any data theft incident. We can assess your case and offer a free consultation. Our legal team has settled numerous data breach lawsuits on behalf of plaintiffs nationwide.

What Happened at Columbia University?

Columbia University allegedly experienced a significant IT outage in June 2025 that was later concluded to be the result of a hacking incident. The incident impacted the university’s IT systems, temporarily disrupting email services, student portals, and administrative services. On June 24, the University experienced a systemwide IT outage that prevented Columbia students and staff from logging into their University emails or other online platforms. The University’s systems are now operational.

According to an official statement posted by the university on July 1, 2025, an initial investigation determined an unauthorized actor gained access to the network and stole personal data belonging to faculty, staff, applicants, students, and their families. University officials say it could take weeks or months to determine the full scope and nature of the data stolen.

The investigation into the cyberattack, which involves the FBI, is ongoing, and more details should emerge in the coming weeks. It has been stated that the alleged hacker may be a “hacktivist,” meaning they attacked the University with a political motive.