Ransomware Attack on Kentucky Department of Education

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has been targeted by the ransomware group HiveLeak, with the attack being announced on their dark web leak site. The KDE operates in the Government sector and is responsible for overseeing the state's public education system.

Victim Profile

The Kentucky Department of Education is a state agency that manages the public education system in Kentucky. The department's website is currently experiencing issues, with the DNS server unable to resolve the hostname presented in the URL.

Size and Industry Standing

The Kentucky Department of Education is a significant organization within the state's education sector. It is responsible for setting educational standards, providing resources and support to schools, and overseeing the state's public education system.

Vulnerabilities

The specific vulnerabilities that led to the KDE being targeted by the HiveLeak ransomware group are not detailed in the available information. However, it is mentioned that the attackers gained unauthorized access to some files from the district's network, which may have contained confidential information of some school employees.

Previous Attacks

Campbell County Schools in Northern Kentucky, which is part of the Kentucky Department of Education, also experienced a ransomware attack in December 2023. The attack resulted in the unauthorized access to employee files, potentially compromising sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers.

Response and Mitigation

The Kentucky Department of Education and Campbell County Schools have responded to the attacks by securing their systems and commencing investigations. They have also taken steps to protect the privacy of information and notify affected individuals.

Sources

• "Kentucky Department of Education" - http://www.education.ky.gov/
• "Data Privacy for Schools and Districts" - https://www.education.ky.gov/districts/tech/Pages/Data-Privacy-for-Schools-and-Districts.aspx
• "KY school district hit by ransomware attack; stolen information may be published online" - https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article282957723.html
• "Employee files compromised after ransomware attack on Campbell County School District" - https://www.wlwt.com/article/campbell-county-school-ransomware-attack-employee/46131696
• "Campbell County Schools, Ky., Hit by Ransomware" - https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/campbell-county-schools-ky-hit-by-ransomware
• "Campbell County Schools: Some employees' personal information may have been taken in a ransomware incident" - https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/campbell-county/campbell-county-schools-some-employees-personal-information-may-have-been-taken-in-a-ransomware-incident