New data indicates that school districts have become highly susceptible to online exploitation, emerging as the primary target for hackers. According to a recent global survey conducted by the British cybersecurity company
Sophos, a staggering 80% of schools experienced ransomware attacks last year, representing a significant increase from the 56% reported in 2021. This doubling of the victimization rate over two years has led researchers to label ransomware as the most significant cyber risk faced by educational institutions today.
Comparing various industries, schools fared the worst in terms of victimization rates, surpassing even sectors like healthcare, technology, financial services, and manufacturing.
The survey, which included responses from 400 education IT professionals worldwide, revealed that United States institutions are particularly attractive targets for hacking groups, especially since the events surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Two factors have made schools especially vulnerable to cyber threats in the United States. First, the cybersecurity measures in educational settings often lag behind those in major businesses, such as banks and technology companies. Second, schools prove to be easy targets for exploitation due to their willingness to pay ransoms.
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