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Ransomware Attack Disrupts Classes for Massachusetts School System

Swansea Public Schools Superintendent John J. Robidoux announced school closures following a ransomware attack against the network. The attack follows a similar cyber incident impacting Bristol Community College.

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(TNS) — Schools canceled classes on Wednesday after the Swansea Public Schools was reportedly struck by a ransomware attack.

Superintendent John J. Robidoux informed families on Tuesday that the district’s network was shut down.

“Due to ransomware attack, our network is shut down,” he tweeted at 4:08 p.m. “School is canceled tomorrow 1/4/23. Principals will be sending one call and... the cancellation will be posted on news stations this evening.”

Robidoux tagged each of Swansea’s schools, Joseph Case High School, Joseph Case Junior High School, E.S. Brown School, Gardner Elementary School, Mark G. Hoyle Elementary School and Joseph G. Luther Elementary School.

“Transportation will still be provided to students attending out-of-district special education schools on 1/4/23,” Robidoux said in a follow-up tweet.

No further details were provided.

Bristol Community College’s network was also recently hit with a ransomware attack “on or around Dec. 23,” according to its website.

“At this time, Bristol Community College has no forensic evidence that this incident resulted in the unauthorized access to, or acquisition of, personal information, as defined under applicable state data breach notification laws, or non-directory personally identifiable information, as defined under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act),” a message on its website read.

An investigation into the attack remains underway. The community college added that if anyone’s personal information was compromised, those individuals will be contacted with guidance on what to do next.

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