Ransomware Attacks Texas Department of Agriculture
In October the Texas Department of Agriculture was hit with an unknown ransomware variant. The malicious software was able to infiltrate the system through an employee’s computer. Although the ransomware was detected quickly, it was still able to encrypt files and compromise student data from area schools.
Since the Texas Department of Agriculture overseas school breakfast and lunch programs, they have access to multiple school system data, including student files. The hackers were able to exploit this, and accessed student data from 39 different independent Texas school districts. It is believed 700 student files may have been compromised. However, officials are not exactly certain if that number is accurate. According to the Longview News-Journal, it is not believed any information that may have been taken has been misused. Although as a precautionary measure, students from the impacted school districts are being encouraged to check their credit reports through the three major credit bureaus.
To see a list of all impacted school districts, you may read the TDA Notification for Ransomware Exploit final approved notice 11_20_2017.
Other Ransomware Attacks
To see a full list of ransomware attacks that have taken place this year, you may click here. We have also created a map, see below, of the ransomware attacks that have taken place in the U.S.
