**EUROPE'S LARGEST UNIVERSITY SHUT DOWN BY RANSOMWARE ATTACK**

La Sapienza, one of the largest universities in Europe with a student body of around 120,000, has been forced to shut down its computer systems for three days following a suspected ransomware attack. The university's website remains offline as staff and students struggle to come to terms with the disruption.

In a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday, La Sapienza confirmed that it had taken down its systems out of precaution, citing an ongoing investigation into the cyberattack. The university reassured students that exams would proceed as normal, but warned that some communication channels, including email and workstations, were "partially limited."

According to Italian daily news outlet Il Corriere della Sera, the disruption is believed to be the result of a ransomware attack by a previously unknown hacking group called "Femwar02". The hackers allegedly sent La Sapienza a link to a request for a ransom, with a countdown of 72 hours, which would start only once the link was clicked.

The university's decision to shut down its systems has left students frustrated and concerned about their access to online resources. "It's chaos," said one student, who wished to remain anonymous. "We can't access our email or online coursework. It's like they've just dropped us in the middle of nowhere."

La Sapienza is not the only university to fall victim to a ransomware attack. Last year, Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania were hacked by the notorious ShinyHunters group, which stole data from the schools without encrypting their systems.

The Italian national cybersecurity agency, Agenzia per la Cybersicurezza Nazionale (ACN), is investigating the incident and has not yet confirmed whether the attack was caused by ransomware. La Sapienza did not respond to TechCrunch's request for comment, which may indicate that the university is unable to accept email at this time.

The Femwar02 hacking group used the BabLock malware, also known as Rorschach, in the attack. This malware was discovered in 2023 and has been linked to several high-profile attacks since then. The use of BabLock highlights the evolving nature of cyber threats and the need for universities to stay vigilant in protecting their systems.

In response to the disruption, La Sapienza has set up "infopoints" on campus to provide information to students. However, many students are left wondering how long it will take for the university's systems to be restored and what measures can be taken to prevent similar attacks in the future.