Vanderbilt University shuts down devices after cyber attack

Key Points:

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's security agent warned reporters they would be physically removed for unprofessional behavior during Hegseth’s first news briefing in six months, an unprecedented move noted by Pentagon press corps members; no reporters were ultimately removed.
• The U.S. Military Academy at West Point plans to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that declared its policy limiting faculty speech unconstitutional, following a lawsuit by a civilian law professor who argued the policy violated the First Amendment.
• The endangered Devils Hole pupfish population in Death Valley National Park has nearly doubled to 137 after conservation efforts, recovering from a low of 20 due to habitat disruption caused by earthquakes in 2025.
• The national average price of gasoline dropped below $4 per gallon for the first time since July, reaching $3.97, amid falling Brent crude oil prices and geopolitical developments, though prices remain higher than last year; diesel prices remain elevated at $6.16 per gallon.
• Vanderbilt University is investigating an active cybersecurity incident linked to a ransomware group claiming to have locked the university’s databases and stolen sensitive data; officials urged immediate caution and device shutdowns while the investigation continues.