Hackers repeatedly target Danish universities for data and research

Several Danish universities have faced cyberattacks in recent weeks, with their personal and research data making them attractive targets for criminals, foreign states and activists, cybersecurity professor Jens Myrup Pedersen told DR.

Universities hold large quantities of sensitive personal information and research data, said Pedersen, who works at Aarhus University. Their visibility also means attacks can attract significant public attention.

Stolen data can be used in phishing scams or sold, he said. Research in areas such as medicine, technology and cybersecurity may also interest foreign states or those seeking industrial intelligence.

Last week, Aarhus University’s IT department detected an ongoing attack and stopped it before the hacker gained access to passwords belonging to about 1,700 users. On Friday, hackers accessed information about approximately 525,000 people at the University of Copenhagen. Earlier in October, an attack on the Technical University of Denmark, known as DTU, potentially affected up to 200,000 current and former users.

There is no documented connection between the attacks. DTU IT director Mads Henrik Bang said the university faces attacks or attempted attacks almost constantly. Many are automatically blocked, he said, but attackers are becoming more persistent, creative and capable of carrying out sophisticated attacks.

In April 2025, the threat of cyber espionage against Denmark’s university sector was assessed as very high. The threat from cybercrime was also rated very high, according to an assessment by the Danish Agency for Societal Security.

Pedersen said universities are working to improve security, but some still rely on old machines and software needed for specific research. He said some systems do not meet security requirements in 2026, while criminals are becoming more skilled and faster.

He urged universities to upgrade outdated systems, invest more in cybersecurity and make security a routine consideration when buying technology or deciding who should have access to what. Bang said DTU is adopting new technology, allocating more resources, upgrading and strengthening systems, and working closely with other universities, authorities and partners.