Schools in Arizona’s Flagstaff Closed by Ransomware Attack

Schools in the Flagstaff Unified School District were closed on 5^th and 6^th September as administrators and staff work to resolve a ransomware attack. The issue “has impacted the ability of FUSD schools to operate normally,” the district said Schools in Flagstaff, Arizona.

FUSD includes 15 schools and more than 9,600 students, canceled classes for 2 days after a ransomware virus was found on multiple servers. Preschools and childcare centers within FUSD were also closed.

District spokesman Zachary Fountain told the Associated Press that officials discovered powerful malware involving a ransomware attack in the district’s servers during routine operations Wednesday, 5^th September. Ransomware typically denotes a demand for payment in exchange for access to locked computers, the AP reported. Fountain said the district had to sever school sites’ internet connections.

The district’s governing board on May 28 approved a $1.18 million purchase of a five-year contract for security software to help stop such cyber-attacks. Superintendent Mike Penca said the software being installed over the weekend was part of the overall cyber security plan already being implemented. “This just speeds up the timeline,” he said.

According to a press release issued Sunday afternoon, 8^th September, schools will be back open Monday morning.

Reference:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/students-rejoice-school-district-closed-by-ransomware-attack/