University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is a public research university situated in Bristol, United Kingdom. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a broad range of disciplines including arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, social sciences and health. As a member of the Russell Group, the institution is recognised for its research intensity and academic reputation. The university supports teaching and research through multiple campuses and facilities located within the city. It engages in collaborations with industry, government and international partners on various research projects. Through its activities, the university contributes to the local economy and cultural life of Bristol.

In October 2020, the University of Bristol was among the academic institutions targeted by a phishing campaign conducted by the Iranian state‑linked group Silent Librarian. The attackers impersonated university portals and library services through fraudulent emails and lookalike domains to harvest login credentials. By obtaining these credentials they sought to steal intellectual property and restricted academic materials for later resale via Iranian‑based platforms. This campaign differed from earlier operations by using Iranian‑hosted phishing infrastructure to evade international law‑enforcement takedowns. Silent Librarian had previously been indicted in the United States for similar global attacks dating back to 2013 and resumed its activities in line with the academic calendar. The incident highlighted the ongoing threat of credential‑theft campaigns aimed at academic research.