{"id":48136,"date":"2024-09-09T00:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T00:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/?p=48136"},"modified":"2024-09-15T18:23:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T18:23:04","slug":"eshetu-ewnetus-years-of-phd-research-work-held-hostage-in-ransomware-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/eshetu-ewnetus-years-of-phd-research-work-held-hostage-in-ransomware-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Eshetu Ewnetu\u2019s Years of PhD Research Work Held Hostage in Ransomware Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"48136\" class=\"elementor elementor-48136\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cfd3c05 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cfd3c05\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3e22f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3e22f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Eshetu Ewnetu, a dedicated PhD student under the AMU-IUC Project\u2019s Research Sub-Project 2,\u00a0is diligently working\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">in the<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/soc.kuleuven.be\/anthropology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology<\/a><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">at KU Leuven, Belgium.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">Supervised by <\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem; color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/soc.kuleuven.be\/anthropology\/staff\/00013861\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prof. Dr. Ann Cassiman<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and<\/span> <\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem; color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Mark-Breusers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Mark Breusers<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">, <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Eshetu\u2019s research focuses on <strong>&#8220;<\/strong><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><em style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">An Ethnographic Study of Uncertainty and Class Among the Gamo of Southern Ethiopia<\/em><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\"><strong>&#8221;<\/strong>, s<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">hedding light on the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">interplay between social class and uncertainty in shaping the experiences and cultural practices of the community.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In a heart-wrenching turn of events,\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">Eshetu\u00a0has recently fallen victim<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to a<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ransomware\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ransomware attack<\/a><\/span>,<span style=\"color: #000000;\"> losing years of meticulous research and a near-complete thesis. The attack encrypted all the data on his computer, including crucial research files, drafts, and personal notes.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">The attackers are demanding a $2,000 ransom for the decryption key, leaving Eshetu with a heartbreaking dilemma: pay the hefty sum with no guarantee of recovering his data or start his research from scratch.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a9255d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4a9255d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5144bb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5144bb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 26-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"372\" src=\"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ransomware-note-1024x372.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-48139\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ransomware-note-1024x372.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ransomware-note-300x109.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ransomware-note-768x279.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Ransomware-note.jpg 1274w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-569addd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"569addd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2eac2f elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b2eac2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote><p><em><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThe attack has had a significant impact on the progress of my PhD, as I have had to restart several chapters from raw data.\u201d\u00a0\u201cIt has also taken a toll on my motivation and concentration. At times, I feel utterly hopeless.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b82ef78 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b82ef78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"269\" height=\"254\" src=\"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eshetu-Ewenetu-portrate.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-48173\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3f4f7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c3f4f7a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-513343c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"513343c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The repercussions of losing research data at such a critical stage can be severe. Eshetu\u2019s ability to meet deadlines, submit publications, and defend his thesis has been\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">jeopardized.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">The emotional strain of potentially losing years of work adds another layer of distress, affecting his mental health and academic motivation.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Despite extensive efforts by Eshetu\u2019s home university and KU Leuven to recover the lost data, reformatting his laptop emerged as the only viable option. This drastic measure has wiped his device clean, forcing him to rebuild\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">several dissertation chapters from the ground up.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the wake of the attack, Ewnetu spent six weeks in Belgium at KU Leuven,\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align);\">working intensively<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align);\">\u00a0with his promotors to reconstruct his research.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align);\">Together, they made significant progress in regaining his academic footing, but the journey has been far from easy.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align);\">As Eshetu rebuilds, his experience serves as a stark reminder of\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">the digital vulnerabilities faced by researchers today.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">\u00a0TISP-1 team,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">which has been closely\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">monitoring\u00a0Eshetu\u2019s case<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">recommends several critical cybersecurity\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">measures\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">to prevent similar tragedies:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Regular Backups:<\/strong> Regularly back up research data using multiple methods, including external drives, cloud storage, and<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/rdb.amu.edu.et\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">institutional repositories<\/a><\/span>.<\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Strong, Unique Passwords:<\/strong> Use robust, unique passwords for all accounts, and consider using a password manager to secure them.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Software Updates:<\/strong> Keep operating systems, antivirus software, and applications up to date to protect against vulnerabilities.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Phishing Awareness:<\/strong> Be vigilant about phishing emails, avoiding links or downloads from unknown sources.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Institutional Support:<\/strong> Leverage university IT resources, such as free antivirus programs, secure storage options, and\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/cybersecurityguide.org\/resources\/internet-safety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cybersecurity guidelines<\/a><\/span>.<\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-align: var(--text-align); font-size: 1rem;\">Ewnetu\u2019s ordeal underscores the critical need for heightened digital security in academic research. His story is not just a personal tragedy but a cautionary tale for the academic community at large, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding intellectual work in an increasingly perilous digital landscape.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eshetu Ewnetu, a dedicated PhD student under the AMU-IUC Project\u2019s Research Sub-Project 2,\u00a0is diligently working\u00a0in the Department of&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":48138,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19045],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48136"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48136"}],"version-history":[{"count":164,"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48738,"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48136\/revisions\/48738"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iuc.amu.edu.et\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}