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Ransomware victim Education

Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour

Listed by Nova on · organisation based in France

univ-pau.fr

Disclosed
Sep 29, 2025
Leak-site listing date
Threat group
Nova
194 victims listed
Country
France
#6 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

Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour was listed by Nova ransomware, a group with 194 victims recorded in this database. The listing appeared on the group's leak site on September 29, 2025.

Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour is based in France and operates in the Education sector. France ranks #6 worldwide for ransomware disclosures, with 570 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files are encrypted, so the victim faces two demands at once — pay to restore access, and pay to keep stolen data unpublished.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.

Frequently asked questions

Was Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour attacked by ransomware?

Yes. Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour was listed as a victim of the Nova ransomware group on September 29, 2025. The organisation is based in France and operates in the Education sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour?

Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour 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 Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour was disclosed on September 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 Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour 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, Universite de Pau et du Pays de lAdour 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.