logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home Bradford Three FBI units look into Zoom bombing; hackers ‘almost certainly not from SBU’
    Three FBI units look into Zoom bombing; hackers ‘almost certainly not from SBU’
    Bradford, Local News, News
    June 23, 2020

    Three FBI units look into Zoom bombing; hackers ‘almost certainly not from SBU’

    ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Three departments of the Federal Bureau of Investigation pored over St. Bonaventure University’s internal investigation into the racist hacking of a university Zoom conversation on June 5.

    The overseas botnet IP addresses the hackers used make further investigation especially difficult, but that fact leads both federal and university officials to believe the hackers were “almost certainly not members of the university community,” said Dr. Dennis DePerro, university president.

    The hackers had a history of botnet activity and their IP addresses were linked to servers as far away as Germany, India and Macedonia, said Dr. Michael Hoffman, SBU’s associate provost and chief information officer.

    The Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch (CCRSB), Civil Rights Division, and White-Collar Crimes squad each looked at the Zoom-bombing materials provided by SBU’s Office of Technology Services.

    “Each unit determined that the words and actions, although horrible, hate-filled and racist, didn’t rise to the level of a hate or internet crime to allow them to investigate further,” said Gary Segrue, director of SBU Safety and Security.

    The university’s Safety and Security Office consulted with the New York State Police Computer Crime Unit before passing on the Technology Services review to the FBI.

    More than one user hacked into the Zoom session, conducted in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing, and uttered racial epithets and drew swastikas and other offensive images on the PowerPoint presentation. They were quickly removed from the session, which continued without further incident.

    “This doesn’t change the fact that this was an outrage and a crime upon our community,” said Dr. Dennis DePerro, university president. “What I stated the day the incident occurred holds true: Any action going forward that rises to this despicable level will result in the most severe penalty if the offender is a student or employee — expulsion or termination.”

    The university’s goal now is to tighten its Zoom security measures, especially for large-scale community meetings that would be more likely to attract hackers, DePerro said. Tech Services established a webpage for employees to find resources for securing a Zoom room.

    Tags:

    botnet computer crime computer science crime dennis deperro federal bureau of investigation hacker police university white-collar crime work

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    Cattaraugus County Museum to host quilting talk
    Local News
    Cattaraugus County Museum to host quilting talk
    July 5, 2025
    MACHIAS, N.Y. — The Cattaraugus County Museum’s Summer at the Stone House series continues Thursday with a presentation by noted quilt appraiser and e...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Greenhouse, hydroponic production webinar
    Local News
    Greenhouse, hydroponic production webinar
    July 5, 2025
    UNIVERSITY PARK  — For those interested in learning more about greenhouse fundamentals and hydroponic vegetable production basics, Penn State Extensio...
    Read More...
    Harvest new ideas at ‘Starting and Improving Farms Conference’ in Sept.
    Business, Local News, PA State News
    Harvest new ideas at ‘Starting and Improving Farms Conference’ in Sept.
    July 5, 2025
    UNIVERSITY PARK — Interested in starting a farm, diversifying an existing farm or beginning an agritourism business? To help participants explore new ...
    Read More...
    Dubas puts emphasis on individual development for Penguins’ 1st round ‘triplets’
    Local Sports, Sports
    Dubas puts emphasis on individual development for Penguins’ 1st round ‘triplets’
    TIM BENZ The Tribune-Review, Greensburg/TNS 
    July 5, 2025
    The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted three players in the first round, it was 1984. Two of those players were Doug Bodger and Roger Belanger....
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Why elite talent trumps scheme fit in the NFL Draft
    Sports
    Why elite talent trumps scheme fit in the NFL Draft
    By Cleveland.com 
    July 5, 2025
    CLEVELAND (TNS) — The eternal NFL Draft debate continues to rage: Should teams prioritize raw talent or scheme fit? In a recent episode of Orange and ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    ‘Round the Square: Got worms?
    Round the Square
    ‘Round the Square: Got worms?
    July 5, 2025
    MEDICINE: Medical advancements are miraculous. Innovations as simple as cleanliness have saved countless lives. Just imagine what the state of healthc...
    Read More...
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA