The OSG Foundation in Hengelo, overseeing several secondary schools, has fallen victim to a ransomware attack, leading to the encryption of its servers. The incident, discovered last Tuesday, prompted the foundation to engage a reputable cybersecurity company to minimize the impact and investigate the cause of the hack. Despite the encrypted servers affecting their usual operations, classes continue as the foundation works diligently to restore systems. While the incident has been reported to the Dutch Data Protection Authority and the police, the extent of data theft remains uncertain as an ongoing forensic investigation seeks to determine the full scope of the breach.
Efforts are underway to restore the systems, with a renowned cybersecurity company working in collaboration with the foundation. Although the investigation is ongoing, the foundation has reassured students who have taken their final exams that the necessary information for obtaining and providing results is accessible. The school is committed to keeping the impact minimal and has regained access to its servers through negotiations with the hackers responsible for the ransomware attack. The agreement involves the hackers promising to destroy the data and refrain from making it public, ensuring the continuity of education quality. The specifics of any ransom payment remain undisclosed at this time.
In response to the incident, the comprehensive school OSG Hengelo has successfully recovered the encrypted data after reaching an agreement with the hackers at the end of last month. Contact was established with the hackers through external experts, leading to the retrieval of the data and a commitment from the hackers not to disclose it. While the exact nature of the compromised data is still under investigation, the school emphasizes its dedication to transparency and promises to inform stakeholders as more information becomes available. The restoration of WiFi access and the functionality of most printers marks progress in returning to normalcy for staff and students.
