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Cyber Threat
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Ransomware victim Education

Helwan University (HITU)

Listed by Umbra on · organisation based in Egypt

helwan.edu.eg

Disclosed
Oct 10, 2026
Leak-site listing date
Threat group
Umbra
10 victims listed
Country
Egypt
#41 most targeted
Sector
Education

ThreatAI analysis

Compiled from this incident record and the threat intelligence profile for Umbra. Figures and technique mappings are quoted from the source data, not inferred.

On 10 October 2026, Umbra added Helwan University (HITU) to its dark web leak site listing the university on that date after operating in Egypt's education sector.

About the Umbra group

Umbra has listed 1 victims since October 2026.

Incident analysis

Helwan University (HITU) was listed by Umbra ransomware, a group with 10 victims recorded in this database. The listing appeared on the group's leak site on October 10, 2026.

Helwan University (HITU) is based in Egypt and operates in the Education sector. Egypt ranks #41 worldwide for ransomware disclosures, with 69 victims in this database.

Sector context. Educational institutions often have under-resourced IT security teams and hold large amounts of student and faculty personal data, making them attractive targets for ransomware groups.

Umbra typically follows a double extortion model: data is exfiltrated from the victim's systems before files are encrypted, so the victim faces two demands at once — pay to restore access, and pay to keep stolen data unpublished. The leak site, where this listing appeared, is the lever for the second demand.

Source. Public leak-site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. The disclosure date is when the listing was published, which can differ from the date of compromise. This site does not publish or link to stolen data. Last updated .

Frequently asked questions

Was Helwan University (HITU) attacked by ransomware?

Yes. Helwan University (HITU) was listed as a victim of the Umbra ransomware group on October 10, 2026. The organisation is based in Egypt and operates in the Education sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Helwan University (HITU)?

Helwan University (HITU) was attacked by Umbra ransomware. Umbra is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 10 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the Helwan University (HITU) ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Helwan University (HITU) was disclosed on October 10, 2026. This date reflects when the victim was published on the threat group's leak site, which may differ from the actual date of initial compromise.

What data was stolen in the Helwan University (HITU) ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from Helwan University (HITU) has not been independently verified by this platform. Ransomware groups typically exfiltrate data before encrypting systems and use the threat of publication to pressure victims. As a Education organisation, Helwan University (HITU) likely held student and faculty personal data and academic records.

How can organisations protect against Umbra attacks?

To defend against Umbra and similar threat actors, organisations should: maintain regular offline backups tested for restoration; implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement; deploy multi-factor authentication on all remote access; use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools; conduct regular phishing and security awareness training; and monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with active groups.