Seattle’s south school district cancels Monday classes over cyberattack

TLDR:

Highline Public Schools, a district south of Seattle, canceled classes on Monday due to a cyberattack. The district detected unauthorized activity on its technology systems and is working to restore and test the systems with third-party and government partners. School districts are common targets for cyberattacks due to the amount of personal and financial data they store. Other essential institutions like public ports and libraries are also vulnerable to cyberattacks. In August 2023, a report was released addressing online security in K-12 schools. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of cybersecurity in educational institutions.

Highline Public Schools, a district with 17,500 students located south of Seattle, canceled classes for Monday due to a cyberattack. The district detected unauthorized activity on its technology systems and took immediate action to isolate critical systems. They are working with third-party, state, and federal partners to restore and test their systems safely.

School districts are often targeted for cyberattacks due to the personal and financial data they store. Highline Public Schools had not detected thefts of personal information by Sunday afternoon, but the attack disabled communication systems, transportation dispatch, and attendance records.

Institutions like public ports and libraries are also vulnerable to cyberattacks. In August 2023, a report was released addressing online security in K-12 schools. This incident demonstrates the ongoing challenges of cybersecurity in educational institutions.

Other key points from the article include:

• On average, there is more than one cyberattack on K-12 schools per school day, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
• The Minneapolis Public Schools and Los Angeles United School District have also faced significant cyberattacks in recent years.
• The incident at Highline Public Schools highlights the importance of cybersecurity in educational institutions and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information.