Hackers access German university email

BOCHUM, Germany, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Hackers accessed email accounts of at least 16 students and staff members of Ruhr University in Germany in the last three weeks, officials said.

The Local.de reported the cyberattacks led 50,000 students in western Germany to change email passwords after a recommendation from the university.

Authorities traced the hackers' IP address to Russia but it wasn't clear whether the owners of the computers were responsible for the attacks.

Authorities said what the hackers were after also was unclear.