A leaked archive of internal data has revealed that the Northwestern Illinois Association (NIA), a regional special education cooperative, has experienced a data breach. The organization serves seventy-two school districts across ten counties in Illinois.
NOTE: We are sharing this information to raise awareness and encourage individuals and organizations to prioritize cybersecurity. Our goal is to help others understand the growing threat of ransomware and the importance of proactive security measures.
With its headquarters in Sycamore, Illinois, the NIA provides specialized services for children with low-incidence impairments, including hearing, vision, and orthopedic disabilities. The organization operates satellite offices within three regional sub-divisions and collaborates with fourteen special education districts and twenty nonpublic agencies.
The archive, obtained by a hacker group known as CICADA3301, reportedly contains 50 GB of files. The exact contents of the breach have not been disclosed, but the exposure of sensitive information has raised concerns about the privacy of students, staff, and partner organizations.
Ransomware attacks are on the rise: The number of ransomware attacks hit a record high in 2023, and the trend continued in 2024 despite law enforcement disruptions.
New ransomware groups emerge quickly: Groups like RansomHub and Qilin replaced older, disrupted groups like LockBit, demonstrating the resilience of ransomware as a threat.
Double extortion is now standard: Most ransomware attacks involve stealing and encrypting data, increasing pressure on victims to pay ransoms.
Attackers exploit known vulnerabilities: Vulnerabilities like Zerologon and CitrixBleed remain popular entry points, highlighting the need for up-to-date security patches.
Submitted February 24, 2025 at 12:51AM by Dark-Marc https://ift.tt/bQvZzVF
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