I have a bit of background in the computer security arena--just enough to know it's complicated and hard to defend oneself. I also have some background advising various levels of government agencies on their technology decisions. For the most part, they are trailing edge shops with limited budgets and older technology. So when I read this Calmatters.org piece on schools being unprepared, I was not surprised in the least.
If Los Angeles Unified, the state’s largest school district, can be hit with a ransomware attack, how prepared are California’s public schools for the increasing threat of cyberattacks? It depends, according to experts working in the field of cybersecurity and information technology in the state’s public schools. Some districts might have a handful of cybersecurity professionals on staff, while others don’t have any. On top of that, there are currently no statewide guidelines for digital security at school districts.
Public schools possess confidential data ranging from Social Security numbers to health records and financial information. While the Los Angeles Unified attack has drawn national attention, Loftus says this prominent case is just the latest example of public education’s vulnerability to cyberattacks. “Education is a mash-up of multiple different sectors,” he said. “We are transportation providers. We provide food and nutrition services. We have school nurses and so much more.” And as school districts and the state took steps to close the digital divide during the pandemic, more students online means more blindspots vulnerable to cyberattacks.
The shame of the whole scenario is that BSD, SMUSHD and even the city of B'game and the county spend a lot of energy on things that are far less important. Some of that is forced upon them like going to district-based elections. But a lot of it is self-inflicted. If we put as much effort into hardening our tech as we do forcing the march to an all-electric future we would be a lot safer. I really hope our misplaced priorities don't end up costing the taxpayers a ton of ransom money.
Does anyone know where to find the Burlingame scores so we can see if we are doing any better than the disastrous state and national scores?
Posted by: Mom | October 27, 2022 at 05:25 PM
Go to the state dept of education site: https://www.cde.ca.gov/
Posted by: HMB | October 27, 2022 at 05:38 PM
Thanks. Before I saw this I happened across a different state site at https://caaspp-elpac.ets.org/caaspp/
It appears that for English language/arts we had 75.64% meeting or exceeding standards. For math 69.82 met or exceeded. Not great and there is a lot of detail by grade. In each topic about 10% are just plain failing. That's terrible.
Posted by: Mom | October 28, 2022 at 02:52 PM
Another reminder from Oakland courtesy of the Mercury News:
OAKLAND — Information stolen in a recent ransomware attack against Oakland could be released publicly, the city warned Friday.
In a social media post, the city said it “recently became aware that an unauthorized third party has acquired certain files from our network and intends to release the information publicly.”
News of the data breach first surfaced Feb. 10, two days after it began. At the time, the city said its emergency and financial systems were not impacted, but many others were when the network was taken down to contain the attack. The city, for example, lost the ability to collect payments and process reports, permits and licenses.
On Feb. 14, Duffey proclaimed a state of emergency to help deal with ongoing outages related to the attack.
Similar data breaches have targeted hospitals, school districts and other public institutions, including Bay Area Rapid Transit systems in January. More than 120,000 files related to the transit agency’s police force were ultimately posted to the dark web.
Posted by: Joe | March 05, 2023 at 03:38 PM