Princeton University says database with donor info compromised

Tom Giles, Bloomberg News on Nov 15, 2025

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Princeton University said a database containing information on alumni, donors, students and other members of the school’s community was “compromised by outside actors for less than 24 hours.”

The incident happened Nov. 10 and affected a database in the Ivy League university’s advancement office that contained personal information, such as names, contact details and details of “fundraising activities and donations” to the school, Princeton said in an email sent to alumni and posted to its website.

“We discovered the incident and removed the attacker(s) from our systems within 24 hours and believe that no other Princeton technology system was compromised,” Princeton officials said in the statement.

The intruder gained access through a phone phishing incident targeting a Princeton employee who had access to the advancement database, Princeton said. The University of Pennsylvania was subjected to a cybersecurity incident in October. Princeton said it has no “factual information” indicating the attack is connected to any other incidents.

The university didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for additional information.