Kilgore College Faces Cyber Threat from INC Ransom Group
Ransomware Attack on Kilgore College by INC Ransom Group
On January 17, 2025, Kilgore College, a prominent two-year community college in Kilgore, Texas, became the latest victim of a ransomware attack by the notorious INC Ransom group. This incident highlights the increasing vulnerability of educational institutions to sophisticated cyber threats.
About Kilgore College
Kilgore College is a publicly supported institution known for its comprehensive educational offerings, including over 115 degree and certificate programs. With an enrollment of over 5,000 students, the college is a significant educational hub in East Texas. It is renowned for its diverse academic programs, including Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Industrial Maintenance, and is home to the famous Kilgore College Rangerettes dance team. The college's commitment to accessible education and its workforce development programs make it a standout institution in the region.
Attack Overview
The ransomware attack was discovered when INC Ransom posted screenshots of exfiltrated data on the dark web, indicating a breach of Kilgore College's systems. The extent of the data leak remains unclear, but the attack underscores the susceptibility of educational institutions to cyber threats. As a publicly funded college, Kilgore College faces the challenge of addressing the breach and mitigating its impact on operations and stakeholders.
About INC Ransom Group
INC Ransom is a sophisticated ransomware group that emerged in July 2023, quickly gaining notoriety for targeting large organizations across various sectors, including education. The group employs a combination of spear-phishing, exploitation of vulnerabilities, and multi-extortion tactics. They are known for exploiting vulnerabilities such as CVE-2023-3519 in Citrix NetScaler to infiltrate networks. Their aggressive extortion methodologies include threatening to leak stolen data if ransom demands are not met.
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