Institute of Space Technology

The Institute of Space Technology (IST) is a public university. Its headquarters is located in Pakistan. Specifically, it is situated in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. The institute is also known by the acronym IST.

It focuses on education and research in the field of space technology. On March 1, 2023, the institute was targeted by a ransomware attack. The attack was conducted by the ransomware group known as Medusa. Medusa is recognized for deploying ransomware to encrypt victim systems.

The ransomware encrypted the institute's systems and compromised sensitive personal data. The compromised data included passports, payslips, and institutional records of students and staff. The attackers demanded a ransom of five hundred thousand United States dollars for the decryption key. They also threatened to publish the stolen data on the dark web if the ransom was not paid. An additional fee of ten thousand United States dollars was offered for extending the payment deadline.

At the time of the initial reports, the institute had not issued an official response to the incident. The incident was covered in an article published by TechJuice.pk. The article is accessible via the URL provided in the source reference.