Schools in Scranton, Pennsylvania, encountered a ransomware attack this week, leading to significant disruptions in their IT systems. The Scranton School District is actively collaborating with third-party forensic specialists to investigate the breach and restore affected systems promptly. Despite the efforts, the district faces challenges, with its website and Facebook account currently unreachable, exacerbating the situation.
The ransomware incident prompted the district to take immediate precautions, with staff instructed to refrain from using electronic devices and uninstalling school-related apps from mobile devices. The disruption caused delays in classes, with the district implementing a two-hour delay on Thursday due to network-related issues. Although the schools operated on Friday, students resorted to traditional pen-and-paper methods as computer systems remained inaccessible.
Acting Superintendent Patrick Laffey expressed the district’s commitment to resolving the issue swiftly, highlighting ongoing efforts to restore full functionality to affected systems. However, details regarding the ransomware attack remain scarce, leaving uncertainty about the extent of the breach and potential data compromise. Despite the challenges posed by the attack, the district and its stakeholders are rallying together to cooperate with investigations and mitigate the impact, underscoring the importance of cybersecurity measures in educational institutions.
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