As Classes Resume, Schools Face Ransomware Risk

Business Continuity Management / Disaster Recovery , COVID-19 , Fraud Management & Cybercrime

Cybersecurity professionals expect a spike in ransomware attacks against school districts and universities this fall as new hybrid learning environments go online and unpatched equipment that has spent months in the homes of students and faculty is reconnected to school networks.

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Schools were in the crosshairs of cybercriminals before COVID-19 shut down classes across the country in March. While there was a dip in attacks as instruction moved online, ransomware incidents have become more common in recent weeks, says Doug Levin president of EdTech Strategies and the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center.

"We're definitely starting to see an uptick in ransomware affecting schools. We've already seen at least three school districts that have delayed the opening of school," Levin tells Information Security Media Group.

So far this year, 45 school districts and universities have been hit with ransomware, compared to 89 in 2019, according to Brett Callow, a threat analyst with the security firm Emsisoft.

Among the most recent incidents, the Haywood County, North Carolina school district was hit by a ransomware attack Monday. A North Carolina Nati ..

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