The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is investigating an alert concerning possible ransomware activity but says there is currently no confirmed indication that its information technology environment has been breached.
In a statement issued Wednesday, August 19, 2026, from The UWI Regional Headquarters in Jamaica, the university said it has not found evidence of unauthorized access to its systems or any leakage of university information.
The institution said it is nevertheless treating the report seriously and has activated its incident response procedures as a precaution.
Cybersecurity specialists and regional authorities are assisting with the investigation, while technical teams across The UWI are examining university systems, looking for possible signs of compromise and assessing the institution’s preparedness.
The university is also asking students, staff, alumni and other members of its community to remain cautious while the investigation continues.
The UWI is advising users not to open suspicious links or attachments and to report unusual system activity or questionable messages to their campus IT Helpdesk as soon as possible.
The university acknowledged that news of a potential cybersecurity threat could cause concern among members of its community and other stakeholders.
The UWI said it will continue monitoring the situation and provide additional information if and when developments warrant further updates.
