Pueblo County School District 70, situated in Colorado, is currently navigating a significant data breach and ransomware incident that has potentially compromised the personal information of former students and both current and past staff members. The breach, spanning records from as far back as 1991 through 2006, first came to light when cybersecurity firm Sophos alerted the district on April 27, followed by confirmation from federal agencies such as the CIA and FBI on May 15. Collaborative efforts with local entities like Pueblo School District 60 and Colorado State University Pueblo ensued to assess the extent of data exposure and mitigate immediate risks.
During a press conference held via Zoom on June 17, Superintendent Ronda Rein addressed the community, explaining that delayed public disclosure was necessary due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing federal investigation. The compromised data potentially includes sensitive details such as names, phone numbers, dates of birth, and other personal information associated with individuals linked to Pueblo D70 during the affected time periods.
In response to the breach, Pueblo D70 has implemented stringent security measures, including the adoption of two-step authentication for staff accounts and the relocation of critical data from local servers to more secure cloud-based platforms. Despite these measures, the district has not reported any instances of misuse of the exposed information to date. However, as a precautionary step, they have advised students, staff, alumni, and community members to remain vigilant by monitoring their financial statements, placing fraud alerts on their credit reports, and exercising caution regarding any suspicious communications.
Looking ahead, Pueblo D70 continues to prioritize transparency and proactive communication with its stakeholders throughout the investigation process. They are committed to strengthening cybersecurity protocols further, including regular audits and the recruitment of additional cybersecurity personnel dedicated to safeguarding district data. Individuals seeking assistance or further information regarding the incident are encouraged to contact the district’s IT support team directly at 719-549-6121.
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