Following a cyberattack believed to have started on March 1, Northern Essex Community College was closed and classes on Monday and Tuesday were not held.
“Northern Essex Community College was notified of unauthorized access to its network on March 1, 2023,” a statement from the school said. “The college immediately launched an investigation in consultation with law enforcement and cybersecurity professionals to determine the extent of the breach.”
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As the statement confirms, there is no evidence that the breach resulted in any unauthorized access to confidential data.
Massachusetts has seen a surge in malicious hackers targeting educational institutions, with NECC being the latest victim. Last month, Public Schools was shut down after a ransomware attack. In January, Swansea Public Schools and Bristol Community College were also shut down due to ransomware attacks.
These may seem like small targets for hackers, but cybersecurity expert Peter Tran says these attacks shouldn't be ignored. Tran says hackers are testing their skills on smaller targets in the hopes of finding common ground in their systems with larger organizations like governments and banking institutions.
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Hackers want students' personal data, as their identities can be stolen and exploited for financial gain, according to Tran.
Data shows that the frequency of attacks on schools is increasing alarmingly.
In 2021, the Verizon 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report revealed that 1,065 weekly cyberattacks targeted educational and research institutions – a notable 75% increase from 2020.
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Tran suggests that educational institutions with outdated systems and firewalls should consider hiring third-party companies for enhanced security measures.
Information source: cbsnews.com
