Identity Thieves Targeting K-12 Schools At An Alarming Rate

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Cybercriminals are targeting schools astatine an alarming rate, putting kids astatine hazard of individuality theft. And their parents whitethorn ne'er know.

We person uncovered immoderate alarming statistic that amusement attacks are much communal astatine K-12 schools than galore realize. And they tin travel with important consequences

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“I ever americium truly cautious with what I share,” said Elizabeth.

From precocious schoolers caller disconnected region learning to Mr. Code’s coding classes…

“If they person each your information…,” said Michael.

“If they get a clasp of it, past they tin bash a batch of atrocious worldly successful your name,” said Toby.

Most kids recognize the repercussions of a cyberattack but it turns retired their schools whitethorn not.

“They tin usage it each the acheronian web,” said Michael.

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According to a caller IBM survey, astir fractional of educators and administrators said they were unconcerned astir cyber attacks.

“That’s truly concerning to me,” said Elizabeth.

And erstwhile we asked section schoolhouse districts astir their policies for tracking and reporting breaches, lone 1 retired of 50 confirmed it really had a policy.

Two schoolhouse districts said they were successful the process of processing a cyberattack reporting policy, and respective said they needed further clip to respond, which is allowed nether California’s nationalist records act. However, the immense bulk of schoolhouse districts did not respond to CBS13’s request.

Meanwhile, CBS13 has reviewed much than 100 publically reported cybersecurity incidents astatine California K-12 schools, including astir a twelve precocious reported ransomware attacks — a benignant of malicious bundle that locks up computers and files — with messages similar this: “until a ransom is paid…”

We confirmed astatine slightest 1 ransomware onslaught successful Placer County School District was ne'er reported publically oregon to parents. But cyber information analysts accidental that’s common, tracking much than 1,600 ransomware attacks connected schoolhouse districts nationwide past twelvemonth alone.

But from Toledo, Ohio to Texas, determination are reports of pupil accusation from hundreds of these breaches present disposable connected the acheronian web wherever kids’ accusation sells for a premium due to the fact that their cleanable recognition histories marque them perfect targets for individuality thieves.

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Coming up contiguous astatine 10, wherefore parents don’t person the close to beryllium notified of ransomware attacks. We’ll besides person details connected what parents tin bash to support their kids from schoolhouse information breaches

Julie Watts