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Cyber Threat
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Ransomware victim Education

University of Rostock

Listed by Panzer on · organisation based in Germany

Disclosed
Oct 7, 2026
Leak-site listing date
Threat group
Panzer
53 victims listed
Country
Germany
#2 most targeted
Sector
Education

ThreatAI analysis

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

University of Rostock was named on dark web leak site operated by Panzer on 7 October 2026, offering over 140 diverse study programs across various fields.

About University of Rostock

The University of Rostock, founded in 1419, is the oldest university in the Baltic Sea region, offering over 140 diverse study programs across various fields. It focuses on innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration to address contemporary societal challenges. The university welcomes students and staff from around the world, promoting a family-friendly and inclusive environment. It also emphasizes democratic values and the importance of free academic exchange.

Source record: ransomware.live

About the Panzer group

Panzer has listed 39 victims since August 2026.

Vulnerabilities Panzer is recorded exploiting

4 of these 4 are in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, 4 of them recorded by CISA as used in ransomware campaigns. CVEs attributed to Panzer across its reported activity. There is no indication that any of these was involved in the University of Rostock incident — the source data does not record an entry point.

Incident analysis

University of Rostock was listed by Panzer ransomware, a group with 53 victims recorded in this database. The listing appeared on the group's leak site on October 7, 2026.

University of Rostock is based in Germany and operates in the Education sector. Germany ranks #2 worldwide for ransomware disclosures, with 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.

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files are encrypted, so the victim faces two demands at once — pay to restore access, and pay to keep stolen data unpublished.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

Yes. University of Rostock was listed as a victim of the Panzer ransomware group on October 7, 2026. The organisation is based in Germany and operates in the Education sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked University of Rostock?

University of Rostock was attacked by Panzer ransomware. Panzer is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 53 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the University of Rostock ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on University of Rostock was disclosed on October 7, 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 University of Rostock ransomware attack?

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

How can organisations protect against Panzer attacks?

To defend against Panzer 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.