IIT-M’s email servers shut down, raises malware concerns

IIT-Madras may be a victim of cyber attack. Its email servers may have been hacked and the entire email system has been shut down since afternoon, according to people in the know.

While the institute did not comment if it was a malware or ransomware, a single line statement said, “The email server at IIT-Madras went down and the cause is being investigated. The Institute has a back-up for the email system and will restore the system soon.”

It could be ransomware attack, said a cyber analyst. “This will affect the institute’s credibility as IIT-Madras has many exchange programmes with foreign universities,” he added.