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Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata

Ransomware attack by Nova · Disclosed July 20, 2026 · 🇦🇷 Argentina

mdp.edu.ar

Date Disclosed
Jul 20, 2026
2026
Threat Group
Nova
194 total victims
Country
🇦🇷 Argentina
Industry
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

Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata was targeted by Nova ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 194 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on July 20, 2026, when Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata is based in Argentina , operating in the Education sector. Argentina ranks #16 globally for ransomware attacks, with 168 victims in our 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 employs a double extortion model: first exfiltrating sensitive data from the victim's systems, then deploying ransomware to encrypt files. Victims face two simultaneous threats — paying to restore access and paying to prevent publication of stolen data. The group's leak site publishes victim names and exfiltrated data as leverage.

Data source: This incident record is sourced from public ransomware group leak site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. Disclosure date reflects when the victim was published on the leak site, which may differ from the initial date of compromise. This platform does not publish or link to stolen data. Last data update: Sep 7, 2026 18:00 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata attacked by ransomware?

Yes. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata was listed as a victim of the Nova ransomware group on July 20, 2026. The organisation is based in Argentina and operates in the Education sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata?

Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata 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 Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata was disclosed on July 20, 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 Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata 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, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata 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.