Highline Public Schools announced that it will welcome students back to school on Thursday, after canceling classes for three days this week due to a cyberattack.
“We have taken steps to allow us to restore certain segments of our digital network in a secure manner,” the district said in its announcement.
The district’s K-12 schools will reopen Thursday, but there won’t be working internet.
“School and department administrators will follow up with school-specific and department-specific information, including instructional guidance, regarding the reopening,” the district said.
Staff are advised not to use their district-issued computer or laptop until further notice. The district is working on a plan for schools that rely on virtual learning.
The 17,500-student district, located south of Seattle, disclosed on Sunday that it had “detected unauthorized activity on our technology systems and have taken immediate action to isolate critical systems.”
The cyberattack left Highline unable to manage school bus transportation and routes, track attendance, issue emergency communications and other functions.
Schools are increasingly being targeted by cyber criminals because they hold large amounts of valuable and sensitive information online about students and staff, and their operations are essential, creating significant problems in a shutdown.
Educational institutions use a lot of technology but don’t have the resources, expertise or mandate to put strong cybersecurity protections in place, experts say.
In the past year in the Seattle area, The Port of Seattle (which includes Seattle-Tacoma International Airport), the city’s library system, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center have also been targeted by cyberattacks.
Previously: ‘They’re attractive targets’: Cybersecurity attacks on schools are becoming more frequent and severe
