US government warns of possible increase in ransomware attacks on schools

a ransomware The gang, known as the Vice Society, which emerged last year, “unfairly targets the education sector with ransomware attacks,” according to the FBI, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and MS-ISAC, a cyberthreat-sharing agency. ‘s public recommendation states: .

Schools with limited cybersecurity resources are often the most vulnerable to ransomware, federal officials say, but even well-protected school systems are vulnerable to opportunistic hackers. may be exposed to

K-12 schools “may be viewed as particularly favorable targets” due to the sensitive data of their students stored through school systems and third-party technology companies, the advisory said. .

The warning comes after the Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the largest schools in the United States, was hit with a ransomware attack over Labor Day weekend, causing “significant disruption” to its computer systems, the district said, but classes were canceled. I have not.

It’s unclear who was responsible for breaking into the district’s computers. CNN has reached out to the school district for comment.

Ransomware attacks are an additional concern for school administrators already struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ransomware attack against a Los Angeles school district is the 50th in the US education sector this year, according to a tally by cybersecurity firm Emsisoft.

Illinois’ predominantly black college forced to close It was founded in May after a pandemic-induced drop in attendance and the impact of ransomware attacks on computer systems.

Another ransomware attack in January forced the public school system of Albuquerque, New Mexico, which comprises more than 140 public schools, to close for two days. Pick up students from school.

same month, another ransomware attack of the software provider.

The federal auditor, the Government Accountability Office, has called on the Department of Education to step up efforts to protect schools from hacking threats.

Source: www.cnn.com

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