BHUBANESWAR: The PG Council of Utkal University on Tuesday was forced to shift from the ongoing e-admission to offline admission following attempts to hack the admission website (www.eadmission.utkaluniversity.ac.in).
Server of the website was deactivated by the university officials on Monday evening as there were frequent attempts to breach the security walls.
This comes a week after the official website of the university - www.utkaluniversity.ac.in - was hacked. Although there was no loss of information then, the website was defaced by cyber criminals who identified themselves as 'Pak Cyber Attackers'.
As of today, 13,355 students have already registered or submitted their admission forms in the e-admission website. More than 1,000 forms each have been received for subjects like Chemistry, Commerce, Physics and Zoology.
While university authorities claimed that there was no loss of data from the website, a group of former students of the institution - who looked into the maintenance of the website for three years before it was handed over to a Bhubaneswar-based private company All India Online - claimed that the website was hacked and a substantial amount of admission date has been stolen by the hacker. They added that the site was hacked by one Ahmed Chaanda who claims himself to be a member of 'Team Pak Cyber Lions'. Registrar of Utkal University Manmath Biswal has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell of Crime Branch.
In an emergency meeting later in the day, the PG Council decided to abort e-admission and conduct the admission process offline. Students, who have already registered with the e-admission website will now be sent the application forms and other related information through emails by the PG Council.
Those who have not registered yet, can get the application forms free of cost at the PG Council office and different departments of the university. Vice-Chancellor Ashok Das said though the e-admission website has been made offline, the application form in a PDF format will be uploaded to it which can be easily downloaded by applicants. They can submit the form along with examination fee in the university office. The last date of submitting application forms has been shifted from May 14 to June 7. Examinations will be held from June 19 to June 28.
Meanwhile, the university authorities said they are contemplating to rope in National Informatics Centre (NIC) to host and maintain all its websites. Online admission in the university was started in 2011-12.
Change of plans
Server of the website deactivated as there were frequent attempts to breach the security walls
PG Council decides to abort e-admission and conduct the admission process offline
Application forms will be available free of cost at PG Council office and different depts of the university
Forms will also be uploaded to e-admission website