Rutgers computer system attacked again

Rutgers University was plagued with computer problems again Monday.

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Rutgers University's computer network was crippled by a cyber attack Monday, leaving much of the state university without internet access for the fifth time in less than a year.

It is unclear if the hacker responsible for the attack was the same cyber criminal or criminals who targeted Rutgers with similar "denial of service" attacks last fall and during the spring semester.

The attack is affecting Rutgers' websites, internet connectivity and wifi access, said E.J. Miranda, a Rutgers spokesman.

"IT is working to resolve the issue," Miranda said.

The university community will be notified when the system is back online, Miranda said.

Rutgers University's main campus in New Brunswick. (Star-Ledger file photo) 

A "denial of service" attack uses a series of "bots," or compromised computer addresses, to flood an institution's  servers with requests, slowing the network and crippling the website.

The attacks are considered an annoyance and rarely result in a company or institution losing data or information.

The FBI was called in to investigate the four "denial of service" attacks at Rutgers in the fall 2014 and spring 2015 semesters. Neither the FBI nor Rutgers officials have commented on the status of the investigation.

Rutgers hired at least three consulting firms in the last year to help upgrade its cyber security efforts. The university planned to spend $2 million to $3 million this year to strengthen its online security and protect the university's computer systems.