Security News > 2020 > December > Alabama school district shut down by ransomware attack
Ransomware operators have attacked the Huntsville City Schools district in Alabama, forcing them to shut down schools for the rest of the week and possibly next week.
The Huntsville City Schools district is the sixth-largest school district in Alabama, with almost 24,000 students, 2,300 employees, and thirty-seven schools.
On November 30th, just as students returned from Thanksgiving break, the school district performed an early dismissal of students after a cyberattack disrupted their IT systems.
To prevent the ransomware from spreading to devices loaned to students and faculties, the district asked that all district-issued devices be shut down and remain off until told otherwise.
The Huntsville City Schools district acknowledged that it was a ransomware attack and that they were forced to shut down schools for the rest of the week, and possibly into next week, as they recover.
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