Tag Archive for: ISD

Hackers Threaten to Release Personal Info if Allen ISD Doesn’t Pay Millions

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Online blackmailers targeting Allen ISD would rake in up to $10 million if they had their way.

Last month, hackers tried to extort the North Texas school district for millions of dollars — a demand that school officials rejected. Then on Monday, after Allen ISD refused to cough up the money, the thieves emailed parents, employees and students saying they’d publish their stolen personal information online, according to NBC-DFW.

“Staff and parents of Allen ISD, Howdy!” the email read, according to that outlet. “We give you five days to collect money.”

Allen ISD spokesman David Hicks didn’t return the Observer’s request for comment by publication time, but he told NBC-DFW that the district doesn’t plan to pay. As of now, there’s no proof to back up the group’s claims.

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Hackers have been making international headlines in recent months with a slew of high-profile attacks.

Some working under the Anonymous banner leaked data from controversial web hosting company Epik, according to The Daily Dot. The leak reportedly includes data linked to the state’s GOP, including “private documents.” Last month, after the state’s abortion ban took effect, Anonymous also appeared to have hacked into the Republican Party of Texas’ website.

Schools in particular seem to be among hackers’ favorite targets, and Allen ISD isn’t the only Texas district that was purportedly breached over the past year.

Located roughly 70 miles from Dallas, Athens’ school district had to delay the start of the 2020 school year because of a ransomware attack.

Earlier this fall, Dallas ISD contacted federal law enforcement after learning of a data security incident that exposed the personal information of parents, alumni, employees and students. On its website, the district noted that despite its best efforts, it’s now one of an increasing number of private and public organizations falling victim to such hacks.

Dallas ISD went on to say that as of now, the affected data appears to…

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Dallas ISD Makes Masks Mandatory as Students Return to Classrooms – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

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What to Know

  • Dallas ISD is temporarily requiring all staff, students and visitors to wear masks when on district property.
  • Superintendent Michael Hinojosa says the measure will help protect staff and students from the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
  • Hinojosa told NBC 5 last week that he was looking into whether or not Dallas can have virtual as an option later this year.

The Dallas Independent School District will require face masks on district property beginning Tuesday, a move the district says is necessary to help prevent the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa made the announcement during a Monday morning news conference, defying an executive order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) that prohibits districts from mandating face masks.

“Governor Abbott’s order does not limit the district’s rights as an employer and educational institution to establish reasonable and necessary safety rules for its staff and students,” a district statement read. “Dallas ISD remains committed to the safety of our students and staff.”

The Dallas Independent School District will require face masks on district property beginning Tuesday, a move the district says is necessary to help prevent the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.

Hinojosa, who leads the largest school district in North Texas and second-largest in the state, referenced the recent UT Southwestern COVID-19 forecast which predicts a worrying spike in virus-related hospitalizations by the end of this month if behaviors aren’t changed.

According to the study, should behavior in Dallas and Tarrant counties continue in the current unmitigated, pre-pandemic patterns, with no masking and no social distancing, the number of occupied hospital beds in Dallas County is predicted to reach 1,500 by Aug. 23 and could reach 4,000 by October.

Parents both in and outside of Dallas ISD reacted to the news — many positively.

“My son is behind in school he’s been virtual since March 2020 and he has to go back,” said Brittany Liles, a Frisco ISD parent who chose in-person learning, despite what…

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SA cyber gurus weigh in on Judson ISD hack

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If you feel like you’re hearing about more ransomware cyberattacks, it’s not your imagination.

The Colonial Pipeline, meat processor JBS, chemical distributor Brenntag, computer-maker Acer, automaker KIA and the Houston Rockets are just a few organizations hit by data hijackers so far this year.

Ransomware encrypts files and systems, rendering them unusable to the owner. The hackers then demand a ransom, usually in cryptocurrency, in exchange for releasing the data.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported 2,474 ransomware attacks in the U.S. in 2020, with losses totaling more than $29.1 million. This year is on pace to smash those numbers.

Gasoline tankers pass by the Colonial Pipeline storage tanks located in Austell, Georgia, on May 10, 2021, as they enter the Marathon Powder Springs Terminal. A ransomware attack shut down the Alpharetta-based Colonial Pipeline that delivers roughly 45% of fuel consumed on the East Coast. (John Spink/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)
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Gasoline tankers pass by the Colonial Pipeline storage tanks located in Austell, Georgia, on May 10, 2021, as they enter the Marathon Powder Springs Terminal. A ransomware attack shut down the Alpharetta-based Colonial Pipeline that delivers roughly 45% of fuel consumed on the East Coast. (John Spink/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

John Spink / [email protected], Staff / TNS

Ransomware is just a fraction of the ever-growing list of computer threats. Last year, the FBI fielded 791,790 internet crime complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase from 2019. The attacks resulted in a loss of $4.1 billion.


In 2020, Texas had 38,640 reported victims of cyber crime, the third highest number in country following California and Florida.

On ExpressNews.com: More than 26,000 students, educators impacted in Judson ISD ransomware attack

With the National Security Agency’s Texas…

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Judson ISD investigating possible ransomware attack affecting district communication, officials say

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LIVE OAK, Texas – Judson ISD officials say they are investigating a possible ransomware attack that left them without phone or email access.

The school district announced the “suspected but unconfirmed ransomware attack” Friday afternoon in a release.

Judson ISD’s Chief Communications Officer Dr. Nicole Taguinod issued the following statement below:

“It has been determined that Judson ISD’s information technology systems have been compromised as the result of a suspected but unconfirmed ransomware attack. We immediately notified federal, state and local law enforcement. We have also engaged independent forensic investigators and third-party experts who are working around the clock, in cooperation with law enforcement, to determine the nature and extent of this attack. It is unclear at this time what information might have been accessed. There is nothing more important to Judson ISD than the safety, security and wellbeing of our employees, students and their families. This includes the protection of your personal data stored within the district’s information technology systems, and we are committed to a successful resolution. We will be sharing updates on our website, social media and the district mass communication system as we are able to do so.”

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Judson ISD is working with forensic investigators, law enforcement, and others to determine the severity of the breach.

This is a developing story, and we’ll bring more updates as they become available. For more updates, visit the school district’s website here.

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