Hackers expose sensitive student information in data breach.
The confidential documents stolen by hackers from schools and dumped online by ransomware gangs are raw, intimate and graphic.
There has been an alarming rise in the number of confidential documents stolen by hackers from schools and dumped online by ransomware gangs. These documents often contain raw, intimate, and graphic details of students’ lives, including student sexual assaults, psychiatric hospitalizations, abusive parents, truancy, and even suicide attempts.
The fact that these documents are stolen and then made available to the public is a huge violation of the privacy of the students and their families. This type of data breach can have a devastating effect on student mental health and well-being, as well as their academic performance. It can also lead to bullying, ostracism, and other negative social consequences.
Schools have an obligation to protect their students’ sensitive information, and if they are unable to do so, they should be held accountable. The best way to protect confidential documents is to ensure they are properly secured with strong encryption measures. It is also important to ensure that all staff members are properly trained on how to safely store and manage confidential documents.
In addition, schools must take steps to ensure that their cybersecurity protocols are up to date and are being properly enforced. This includes having an up-to-date firewall and regularly patching software and operating systems. Schools must also have a comprehensive data breach response plan in place in order to quickly address any potential data breach.
Finally, schools must take steps to ensure that students and their families are aware of their rights and the potential consequences of a data breach. This includes educating students and their families on the importance of data privacy, the potential risks of data breaches, and the steps they can take to protect themselves.
Data breaches are a serious issue, and schools must take every possible measure to ensure that confidential documents are secure and not exposed to the public. The mental health and well-being of students must be the top priority for schools, and they must do all they can to protect the sensitive information of their students.