Princeton University disclosed a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to one of its University Advancement databases, after external attackers infiltrated the system on November 10, 2025. The intrusion, which lasted less than 24 hours, exposed personal information belonging to a broad segment of the university community.
According to university officials, the affected database included names, email addresses, phone numbers, residential and business addresses, and details related to fundraising interactions and donation histories. The information pertained to alumni, donors, faculty members, students, parents, and other connected individuals.
Crucially, the compromised system did not generally contain Social Security numbers, passwords, credit card details, bank information, or protected student records governed by federal privacy laws.
Still, the exposure of contact information and donor-related details has prompted concerns about targeted phishing attempts seeking to exploit the breach.
Rapid Detection and Incident Response
Princeton’s cybersecurity team identified the suspicious activity within 24 hours of the initial breach, swiftly removing the unauthorized actors from the system. The university immediately engaged external cybersecurity specialists and notified law enforcement to assist with the forensic investigation.
By November 15, Princeton began issuing alerts to individuals who may have been affected, urging them to remain cautious of unsolicited messages especially those asking for sensitive data.
University representatives emphasized that legitimate staff will never request Social Security numbers, banking details, or account passwords via email, phone calls, or text messages.
Investigators confirmed that no other university systems were compromised during the attack. While some campus services experienced disruptions beginning November 14, officials have not stated whether those issues were related to the breach.
To support community members seeking more information, Princeton launched a dedicated resource page and established a specialized email address for inquiries.
Ongoing Investigation Into Scope of Access
The university’s response team continues to work alongside cybersecurity experts to analyze the attack vectors and determine precisely what data was viewed or extracted. Officials have not yet disclosed the full extent of the attackers’ access but stressed that containment measures were implemented quickly to prevent further intrusion.
Princeton will continue providing updates to affected individuals as new findings emerge from the ongoing forensic review.
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