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Cyber Threat
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Ransomware victim Education

SunMoon university

Listed by Nova on · organisation based in South Korea

sunmoon.ac.kr

Disclosed
May 29, 2025
Leak-site listing date
Threat group
Nova
194 victims listed
Country
South Korea
#21 most targeted
Sector
Education

ThreatAI analysis

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

About the Nova group

Nova (formerly RALord) is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) group that encrypts victims’files and uses double-extortion tactics to pressure organizations into paying for decryption and data non-disclosure. Nova has listed 178 victims since March 2025.

Incident analysis

SunMoon university was listed by Nova ransomware, a group with 194 victims recorded in this database. The listing appeared on the group's leak site on May 29, 2025.

SunMoon university is based in South Korea and operates in the Education sector. South Korea ranks #21 worldwide for ransomware disclosures, with 149 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.

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files are encrypted, so the victim faces two demands at once — pay to restore access, and pay to keep stolen data unpublished.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

Yes. SunMoon university was listed as a victim of the Nova ransomware group on May 29, 2025. The organisation is based in South Korea and operates in the Education sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked SunMoon university?

SunMoon university was attacked by Nova ransomware. Nova is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 194 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the SunMoon university ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on SunMoon university was disclosed on May 29, 2025. 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 SunMoon university ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from SunMoon 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, SunMoon university likely held student and faculty personal data and academic records.

How can organisations protect against Nova attacks?

To defend against Nova 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.