Malware Attack Disrupts College of Eastern Idaho’s Network Amid Rising National Threats

The College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls, Idaho, was forced to shut down its network last week after malware infiltrated its systems through a student’s personal laptop. Initially described as a “Trojan horse attack,” the incident prompted a full system shutdown and involvement from cybersecurity professionals. While school officials report no evidence of a data breach, the attack disrupted campus operations and left no clear timeline for full recovery. Summer classes are proceeding using contingency measures.

CEI, a public institution serving more than 18,000 students annually and accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, offers a broad mix of academic and workforce programs. The breach aligns with a surge of cyber incidents affecting U.S. educational institutions in 2025, including ransomware attacks on Western New Mexico University, Jefferson Joint School District in Idaho, and schools in New Jersey and Texas. These events have highlighted the education sector’s growing vulnerability to cyber threats.

However, CEI’s limited disclosure and the vague attribution of the malware to a student’s web browsing raise concerns about transparency and underlying cybersecurity maturity. Experts note that a single student device compromising an entire campus network points to inadequate segmentation and weak endpoint protections. Without stronger information security practices and clearer communication, institutions like CEI may remain vulnerable to similar or more severe future attacks.