NYU Website Hacked to Display Racist Garbage

Higher education is already under siege by the Trump administration, but New York University (NYU) took a hit from a different kind of attack on Saturday morning. The university's website fell victim to an apparent hack, which resulted in the homepage being defaced for several hours and displaying racial slurs and graphs that purported to show test scores of students broken down by race.

The hacker, who identifies themselves on X with the handle (censored here) “@bestn*ggy,” hijacked the university's homepage and displayed a message that read, “On June 29 2023, racial affirmative action in college admissions was ruled illegal. Computer N*ggy Exploitation (CNE) reveals NYU continued anyway.”

This message was followed by a graph purporting to show the average SAT scores, ACT scores, and grade point average of NYU applicants who were admitted into the university, broken down by race. The hacker also published links to mirrors of the supposed data they gained access to in order to display the scores, identified by the hacker as “raw data” with personally identifiable information redacted.

The hacker claimed that the data was “literally just raw data from NYU's own data warehouse” and that they “only posted (redacted) bare minimum to prove they’re breaking the law.” They also claimed responsibility for a breach of the University of Minnesota back in 2023 that reportedly exposed millions of social security numbers.

The apparent claim being put forth by the hacker and their racist edgelord persona is that NYU is admitting college students based on some way on race. The theory being that some students would not be admitted if they were being judged solely on their test scores and GPA. However, this data doesn't prove that at all.

NYU is a test-optional school, so the people who submit test results in the first place are self-selecting – they’re going to submit a score if they think it might help them. Likewise, the scores can’t account for the wealth disparity that plagues standardized testing, as the children of wealthy people significantly outperform students from lower-income households, in no small part due to the resources available to them.

The hacker's claims have been picked up by some of the worst accounts on X, who have run with the data to suggest NYU has been giving preference to students based on race. However, this is a misrepresentation of the facts. NYU posts its own data on incoming classes, and it indicated that it saw a decline in historically underrepresented minority groups for the class of 2028 following the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action within college admissions.

This incident highlights the rise of cyber attacks and online harassment targeting universities and individuals who support diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The hacker's actions are a prime example of how social media platforms can be used to spread misinformation and hatred. As the Trump administration continues to crack down on higher education institutions, it seems that racists are becoming emboldened on the internet.

The Impact of Online Harassment

Online harassment is having a profound impact on individuals and communities. The case of NYU highlights the importance of protecting online platforms from hate speech and misinformation. It also underscores the need for universities and institutions to take proactive steps to prevent cyber attacks and protect sensitive information.

A Call to Action

It's time for social media platforms, governments, and institutions to take a stand against online harassment and hate speech. We must work together to create a safer and more inclusive online environment where everyone can express themselves without fear of reprisal or intimidation.

The Rise of Cyber Attacks

Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common, with hackers targeting universities, individuals, and organizations from around the world. The NYU hack is just one example of how cyber attacks can be used to spread misinformation and hatred.

Prevention is Key

Preventing cyber attacks requires a multi-faceted approach that involves institutions, governments, and social media platforms working together. This includes implementing robust security measures, educating users about online safety, and taking swift action against hate speech and misinformation.