Blacon High School, near Chester, UK, temporarily closed due to a ransomware attack. The closure began January 21st, 2025.
A cybersecurity firm is investigating the incident. The school will remain closed until the investigation concludes.
Headteacher Rachel Hudson confirmed the breach. It occurred on Friday, January 17th. Further closures may be necessary.
“We have an independent cyber-security company working in school to understand exactly what has happened,” said Hudson.
All staff devices require cleansing before lessons can resume. Students will complete work on Google Classroom from home.
The incident raises concerns about student data privacy. The implications of the breach are under investigation.
The attack follows a similar incident at Gateshead Council. Stolen documents appeared on a data leak site after a January 8th breach.
Some personal data may have been compromised in the Gateshead incident. This reflects a broader trend of increasing ransomware attacks.
A Corvus Insurance report showed a 68% rise in ransomware attacks in 2023. There were 4,496 leak site victims in 2023, up from 2,670 in 2022.
Allianz Group also warned of a predicted 25% annual increase in cyber claims. The UK National Cyber Security Centre offers guidance on mitigating ransomware impacts.
The guidance primarily targets businesses. The Blacon High School incident underscores the need for improved school cybersecurity.
The Blacon High School ransomware attack and its impact serve as a reminder of the need for improved cybersecurity strategies for schools and the crucial role of cybersecurity companies in educational settings.
The rise of ransomware attacks in 2023 necessitates proactive measures to prevent future incidents and protect sensitive student information. The steps taken by Blacon High School after the ransomware incident will be closely scrutinized for lessons learned.
