Cybersecurity

The Sophos State of Ransomware in Education 2025 report indicates that while smaller ransoms and faster recovery demonstrate progress, phishing, stolen data, and staff burnout keep schools at risk.

The education sector has seen a swift rise in cybersecurity incidents since 2024, but training, awareness and tools can help ease incidents and response time.

A class action lawsuit against the Massachusetts Department of Public Health over a pandemic-related tracking phone application is nearing a conclusion.

Las Vegas police have announced the arrest of a teenager, not identified because he is a minor, on suspicion of committing a “sophisticated” cyber attack that MGM Resorts said cost it $100 million.

Billions of records are breached each year as a result of misconfigured servers, firewalls and other network devices. What can be done? Let’s explore.

Online access has been restored at city libraries and recreation centers, following a full system shutdown in the wake of a July ransomware attack. Safeguards include segmentation and simplified logins.

The Office of Technology Services has emphasized those goals as part of a broader five-year strategic plan aimed at modernizing state tech services and enhancing the customer experience.

From Arizona to Maine, 17 projects will join the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s RAMPS initiative, to strengthen local pipelines of cybersecurity talent. A lack of personnel persists even as cyber attacks scale up.

The state Office of Attorney General confirmed a cyber attack that encrypted files in an attempt to seek a ransom was behind website, email and phone outages last month. The office has not paid, it said.

The service is cautioning taxpayers to be wary of advice found on social media, warning that many self-proclaimed tax experts are actually promoting scams that could result in financial penalties.

The library was targeted in 2024 by someone pretending to be a vendor, according to an audit. Since the incident, vendor verification measures have been instituted, and cybersecurity training for library managers.

Former Vice Admiral Timothy “T.J.” White has been chosen to helm the new state-level cybersecurity agency, Gov. Greg Abbott’s office announced. He was most recently commander of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and some groups in the public sector have already announced plans to address a range of topics, including password protection, phishing and social media safety.

An entity has claimed responsibility for the Sept. 4 cyber attack on the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. It’s not clear whether it has demanded a ransom, but leaders are working “around the clock” on a restoration.

A public school district in the Metro Detroit area went offline and suspended classes on Monday and Tuesday while it investigates a network interruption and attempts to restore its systems.

Three years after an audit recommended cybersecurity improvements at Starpoint Central School District, the New York State Education Department and State Comptroller’s Office followed up and came to different conclusions.

The latest annual report by the State Educational Technology Directors Association highlights AI’s growth alongside gaps in funding, teacher support and cybersecurity.

Following a new state mandate that municipalities update IT policies, village officials are mulling a new cybersecurity policy. Its precise details, due to state requirement, may not be publicly available.