No Data Stolen In Cyberattack: Baltimore County Public Schools

Baltimore MD

07 December, 2020

12:09 PM

Description

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — All Baltimore County Public Schools students and staff will have free credit monitoring, Baltimore County officials announced Monday, nearly two weeks after the public school system was attacked by ransomware. The move is "out of an abundance of caution," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said, noting more details would be provided in the near future. Officials said they do not believe any data was stolen in what Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl Williams called a "crippling cyberattack." Classes were canceled from the day before Thanksgiving until the following Wednesday after the attack. Several state agencies are assisting in the investigation. "We have no evidence that shows that there has been any ... data theft from Baltimore County," according to Jim Corns, executive director of information technology for Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). "Our investigation is ongoing." BCPS Board of Education Chair Kathleen Causey said the school system had cyber insurance. The state department of information technology has embedded a staffer with the Baltimore County system to assist with the recovery, and Baltimore County police officers are adding staff at schools where laptops are being exchanged, the county executive said, explaining the response is ongoing. Watch the news conference held with BCPS on the cyberattack on Monday, Dec. 7. Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Patch newsletters and real-time email alerts. See Also: Ransomware Attack Update: BCPS Encourages Device ChecksBCPS To Resume Virtual Learning Wednesday After CyberattackBCPS Closed To Students For 2 More Days Due To Ransomware AttackRansomware Attack Closes Baltimore County Public Schools