Monroe University has confirmed that a major data breach in December 2024 affected 320,973 individuals. The incident occurred when unauthorized attackers gained access to the university’s internal systems. The intrusion lasted for nearly two weeks, from December 9 to December 23, 2024, during which files were copied from the network.
After discovering the cyberattack, Monroe University launched a detailed investigation to understand what data was accessed. The review showed that a large number of files contained sensitive personal information. Based on this review, the university determined that hundreds of thousands of people were impacted by the breach.
The compromised data may include names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license or passport details, and other government identification numbers. In some cases, the stolen files also contained medical information, health insurance details, financial account data, and student records, depending on the individual.
Usernames, email addresses, and passwords may also have been part of the exposed data. Because of the wide range of information involved, the breach is considered serious. However, Monroe University stated that there is no evidence so far that the stolen information has been misused for fraud or identity theft.
The university confirmed that it identified the presence of personal data in the stolen files on September 30, 2025, after completing its internal file analysis. Once this was confirmed, Monroe University prepared notification letters to inform affected individuals about the incident.
Written notification letters began being mailed on January 2, 2026, to people for whom the university had valid mailing addresses. These letters explain what information may have been exposed and provide guidance on steps individuals should take to protect themselves.
To support affected individuals, Monroe University is offering one year of free credit monitoring services. This service is intended to help detect any unusual activity related to credit reports. The university has also shared contact details for those seeking additional information or assistance.
Monroe University stated that it is continuing to monitor the situation and strengthen its cybersecurity measures. Like many educational institutions, it holds large volumes of sensitive data, making it a frequent target for cyberattacks. The university has encouraged affected individuals to stay alert and review their financial and credit records regularly.
Stay alert, and keep your security measures updated!
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