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Cyber Threat
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Ransomware victim Education

Newcastle University

Listed by Exfilsquad on · organisation based in United Kingdom

ncl.ac.uk

Disclosed
Jul 26, 2026
Leak-site listing date
Threat group
Exfilsquad
15 victims listed
Country
United Kingdom
#3 most targeted
Sector
Education

ThreatAI analysis

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

About the Exfilsquad group

Only exfiltration Exfilsquad has listed 15 victims since July 2026.

Incident analysis

Newcastle University was listed by Exfilsquad ransomware, a group with 15 victims recorded in this database. The listing appeared on the group's leak site on July 26, 2026.

Newcastle University is based in United Kingdom and operates in the Education sector. United Kingdom ranks #3 worldwide for ransomware disclosures, with 986 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.

Exfilsquad 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files are encrypted, so the victim faces two demands at once — pay to restore access, and pay to keep stolen data unpublished.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 Newcastle University attacked by ransomware?

Yes. Newcastle University was listed as a victim of the Exfilsquad ransomware group on July 26, 2026. The organisation is based in United Kingdom and operates in the Education sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Newcastle University?

Newcastle University was attacked by Exfilsquad ransomware. Exfilsquad is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 15 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the Newcastle University ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Newcastle University was disclosed on July 26, 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 Newcastle University ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from Newcastle University 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, Newcastle University likely held student and faculty personal data and academic records.

How can organisations protect against Exfilsquad attacks?

To defend against Exfilsquad 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.