Skip to content
Cyber Threat
CTI Academy Sponsor CTI Academy
Ransomware victim Education

Philander Smith University

Listed by Endzone on · organisation based in United States

philander.edu

Disclosed
Oct 6, 2026
Leak-site listing date
Threat group
Endzone
10 victims listed
Country
United States
#1 most targeted
Sector
Education

ThreatAI analysis

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

Endzone listed Philander Smith University on its dark web leak site on 6 October 2026. The university, based in the United States and operating in the Education sector, is now one of Endzone's victims.

About the Endzone group

Endzone has listed 2 victims since September 2026.

Incident analysis

Philander Smith University was listed by Endzone ransomware, a group with 10 victims recorded in this database. The listing appeared on the group's leak site on October 6, 2026.

Philander Smith University is based in United States and operates in the Education sector. United States ranks #1 worldwide for ransomware disclosures, with 9,981 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.

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files are encrypted, so the victim faces two demands at once — pay to restore access, and pay to keep stolen data unpublished.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

Yes. Philander Smith University was listed as a victim of the Endzone ransomware group on October 6, 2026. The organisation is based in United States and operates in the Education sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Philander Smith University?

Philander Smith University was attacked by Endzone ransomware. Endzone 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 Philander Smith University ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Philander Smith University was disclosed on October 6, 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 Philander Smith University ransomware attack?

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

How can organisations protect against Endzone attacks?

To defend against Endzone 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.