Middlesex County Public Schools in Virginia confirmed a recent ransomware attack, acknowledging the incident and swiftly initiating an internal investigation. Superintendent Dr. Tracy Seitz announced the formation of an incident response team, consisting of the school division’s IT professionals and cybersecurity experts, to address the situation. The Akira ransomware group claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that it compromised the school’s website and obtained 543 GB of data. The school authorities, collaborating with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, are actively sharing information to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The superintendent assured that the impact on daily operations has been minimal due to the prompt response and mitigation efforts. While acknowledging the ransomware attack, details regarding the nature of the compromised data and the specific actions taken by the attackers remain undisclosed. The cybersecurity organization BetterCyber reported the group’s claim of stealing a substantial amount of data, but the school district refrained from providing additional information to avoid interference with ongoing law enforcement efforts. Middlesex County Public Schools, located on the Middle Peninsula north of Gloucester, encompasses 121 instructional staff, 64 support staff, and serves 1,220 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels.
The incident underscores the persistent threat of ransomware attacks targeting educational institutions and the crucial role of swift responses and collaborative efforts in mitigating potential disruptions.
