University printers part of national hacking

Three University of Oregon printers appear to have been hacked in a nationwide incident that sent anti-Semitic flyers out to several universities.

At the UO, the fliers came to printers in Intercollegiate Athletics and the Knight Library, and possibly other printers still unreported. 

UO Police were notified, and the department’s lead cyber crimes specialist opened an investigation to see if any university-affiliated individuals were being targeted. Word spread early Friday that multiple institutions had received the fliers, through network printer ports open to the internet.

“While we are relieved that the flier does not appear to have been generated inside the university, it is an important reminder that we cannot and will not tolerate an act designed to make any member of our campus community feel unwelcome or threatened,” said Tobin Klinger, university spokesperson.

According to news reports, approximately 29,000 printers that were connected to the Internet that could be exploited through an open port were exploited nationally.