Security News > 2021 > April > Ransomware gang wanted $40 million in Florida schools cyberattack
An example of this is a recently revealed ransomware attack on the Broward County Public Schools district where threat actors demanded a $40,000,000 payment.
According to the Broward County Public Schools website, the school system is the sixth-largest in the USA, with nearly 261,000 students and approximately 110,000 adult students in 241 schools, centers, and technical colleges, and 92 charter schools.
Last month, Florida's Broward County Public Schools had to shut down their IT systems after suffering what was reported as a cyberattack.
Schools have had to dip into their cash reserves to open schools under strict health guidelines due to the pandemic, leaving little room for million-dollar ransom payments.
While ransomware gangs have successfully extorted public schools and universities in the past, it is not nearly as common as with the enterprise.
The $40 million ransom in the Broward County Public Schools cyber attack is the second-most largest demand seen to date.