On Friday evening, Coweta County School System in Georgia fell victim to a cyberattack that has impacted its 23,000 students across 29 K-12 schools. The attack, which has been classified as serious by the district, caused disruptions to the school system’s network and prompted immediate action from IT staff. Network processes were hampered, and school system employees were instructed to avoid using desktop devices during the investigation. The district reported the cyberattack to the Georgia Emergency Management Authority and Homeland Security, with investigations now underway in collaboration with cybersecurity experts, law enforcement, and state authorities.
In response to the attack, the school system’s IT department took critical steps to contain the incident, including taking systems offline to prevent further damage. Access to the school system’s internal network has been restricted during the investigation and monitoring process. Despite these measures, the district reassured the public that essential school operations, including WiFi access, Chromebook usage, and phone services, remained unaffected. These efforts helped maintain continuity for students, who were still able to engage in online activities despite the network disruption.
The timing of the attack is especially challenging, as it occurred just before final exams and Advanced Placement (AP) testing were set to begin.
However, the school district confirmed that AP testing, along with other important academic activities like state Milestones Testing, would proceed as scheduled without delay. The school system has been working with federal and state authorities to ensure that the ongoing investigation does not interfere with academic schedules. Students will be able to complete their exams and other important educational activities as planned.
Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that any personal information, including that of students and employees, was compromised during the cyberattack. However, the investigation is still ongoing to determine the full extent of the incident. While school staff are restricted from using desktop devices, the district emphasized that all necessary steps are being taken to safeguard sensitive data and strengthen its cybersecurity protocols moving forward. Despite the attack, the school system remains focused on resolving the incident and minimizing its impact on both students and staff.
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