Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Reports: Hacked CCSD student information apparently discovered online

School District

Justin M. Bowen / File photo

The Clark County School District administration building in Las Vegas.

Updated Monday, Sept. 28, 2020 | 12:10 p.m.

A hacker has apparently published some Clark County School District students’ personal information, including grades, following a ransomware attack, according to media reports.

Brett Callow, a threat analyst with cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, said he found leaked documents on an online hacking forum that purported to include School District records, including the names of students, Social Security numbers, addresses and some financial information, according to a report by Business Insider.

The information was published after the School District refused to pay a ransom, the report said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported Callow’s findings today.

The School District said it was working to determine the “full nature and scope of the incident” but could not verify many of the claims in the reports.

In a message to parents, the district also noted it was coopering with law enforcement officials.

“As the investigation continues, CCSD will be individually notifying affected individuals,” the message said.

Certain computer systems were infected on Aug. 27 with a virus that prohibited access to some files, School District officials said earlier this month.

At the time, they said the incident may have affected individuals including current and former employees.

“It was determined that CCSD was the victim of a criminal ransomware attack and is working to restore all systems to secure, full functionality,” a notice to employees said.

Such attacks typically threaten to expose sensitive information or continue to block access to data unless a ransom is paid.