Pittsburgh UFSD in California has been dealing with a ransomware incident since before Christmas.
In one status report on Facebook, they explained:
Welcome back to school and to 2020! Our District email and server are still down. Our phone systems are working. Over the break, our district network systems were hit with a ransomware attack. All affected and potentially affected servers were taken offline. We have been working with 2 external IT firms and attorneys who are all specialists in this. Law enforcement has been notified. The investigation and repair work is ongoing. Later this afternoon we will send an update with some more information, including the estimated timeline for AERIES so you can see semester grades. This does not impact the start of school. Welcome back to Highlands Elementary today and all other schools tomorrow! Welcome back to our staff for their professional development day today!
The following is the most recent update on their website:
JANUARY 6, 2020: MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT:
We are all set for school tomorrow! We will be teaching and learning like “back in the day”?…without laptops and internet. Our schools have access to student information and our phones are working. We still are not able to receive email, so please call your child’s school if needed.
At this time, we do not have any indication that personal data/information has been compromised. We are continuing to investigate and work with a cybersecurity team and experts. Since the investigation is continuing, complete findings are not available and it is still too early for us to provide further details.
Secondary schools will have an extension until Monday, January 13th, to enter 1st semester grades into Aeries. Families and students do not have access to Aeries yet.
Food service is happening as usual at all schools.
I will send out more information as it becomes available.
Thank you for your patience!
Janet
Janet Schulze, Ed.D.Superintendent, Pittsburg Unified School District