The UPEI IT Systems and Services team is advising all faculty, staff, and students to suspend the use of MATLAB and any other MathWorks software products until further notice.

We have been informed that MathWorks, the developer of MATLAB, has recently been impacted by a ransomware attack. While the full extent of the breach is still being assessed, as a precautionary measure, we are recommending that no one use or access MathWorks services or software—including MATLAB, Simulink, and any related toolboxes—until we can confirm it is safe to do so.

We will provide an update as soon as more information becomes available or when it is deemed safe to resume use.

If you use the same username and password for any third-party systems as you do for your UPEI account, please change your UPEI password immediately. Reusing credentials across systems significantly increases the risk of unauthorized access so you should always use a unique password that is different from your UPEI credentials.

Cybersecurity Reminder

This incident is a timely reminder of the importance of staying vigilant against cyber threats. Please take a moment to review these key practices:

• Phishing: Be cautious with unexpected emails or messages, especially those urging immediate action or requesting personal or financial information. When in doubt, don’t click—report suspicious emails by clicking on Report --> Report Phishing button in Outlook. This automatically forwards the suspicious email to ITSS.  Do NOT forward the email to anyone. 
• Vishing (Voice Phishing): Do not disclose sensitive information over the phone unless you have verified the caller's identity.
• Smishing (SMS Phishing): Treat links and attachments in text messages with the same caution as email.
• Software Downloads: Only install software from trusted sources, and avoid third-party sites.

Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and protecting our digital environment is a shared responsibility. If you believe you may have been targeted or have questions, please contact the ITSS Help Desk at go.upei.ca/itss or 902-566-0465 for urgent live help.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued commitment to campus cybersecurity.