Entry Details

About the Entry

Category: 
Online > Web Feature Series > Mid Atlantic

Title of entry: 
Education Extortion: The financial and emotional toll of ransomware attacks on K-12 schools

Issue or Publication date:
10/28/2024, 10/29/2024, 10/30/2024, 10/31/2024, 11/1/2024, 11/7/2024, 10/28/2024

Publication name: 
K-12 Dive

View Website home page:
https://www.k12dive.com/

Links to entry URLs

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Entry URL(s), if applicable:
Please enter a URL that will direct judges to the entry: 
https://www.k12dive.com/news/school-ransomware-attacks-cybersecurity-funding/730333/
Additional URLs, if needed:
https://www.k12dive.com/news/cyberattack-albuquerque-public-schools-lessons-learned/730348/
https://www.k12dive.com/news/k-12-cyber-insurance-costs-rising-ransomware/729011/
https://www.k12dive.com/news/school-cyberattacks-reporting-ransomware-cisa/729015/
https://www.k12dive.com/news/4-strategies-schools-prevent-respond-ransomware-attacks/730091/
https://www.k12dive.com/news/ransomware-persistent-growing-threat-schools/732137/
https://link.k12dive.com/public/37242518

Entry Essay: 
With their sensitive troves of staff and student data, K-12 schools are prime targets for cybercriminals. Even the most advanced defenses can fail if a single email link is clicked on, unleashing a ransomware attack. Our audience of district leaders, school principals, education experts and other executives knows how these attacks can throw schools into turmoil, spur community panic and disrupt learning as districts scramble to assess the damage and recover.

For this five-part series, K-12 Dive reporters examined how ransomware attacks lead to logistical, financial and legal nightmares. They investigated vulnerabilities, analyzed schools’ responses to cyber threats, evaluated cyber insurance’s role, and uncovered best practices for prevention and response. Along the way, they also uncovered the emotional toll these attacks take on administrators. They often feel victimized and ashamed that they got caught by cybercriminals.

Throughout the reporting process, administrators wanted to avoid discussing their experiences. Still, Senior Reporter Kara Arundel overcame this reluctance, securing an interview with Albuquerque Public Schools’ chief technology officer about the district's 2022 ransomware ordeal. Her compelling narrative detailed the attack’s chaos, its aftermath, and the district’s efforts to bolster defenses and safeguard student data.

In another installment, Reporter Anna Merod delved into administrators' ethical dilemmas when deciding whether to disclose attacks. She also examined a proposed federal requirement for larger districts to report cyber incidents and ransom payments, shedding light on this potential regulatory shift.

The series featured striking statistics in a visually engaging “by the numbers” format, highlighting data such as average ransom payments and downtime losses. It also raised critical questions about cyber insurance, offering actionable tips for districts weighing this investment against its costs and benefits.

Recognizing the complexity of ransomware challenges, the series provided best practices for school districts on preventative strategies and a practical sidebar on critical decisions, including whether to pay a ransom.

Overall, the K-12 Dive series is an indispensable resource, equipping school leaders to understand the risks, prepare for worst-case scenarios and avoid falling victim to these devastating attacks.