Ransomware Ruckus: Russian Hackers Hijack School Districts, Chaos Ensues!
Qilin cybercrime group strikes again, disrupting Mecklenburg County schools with a ransomware attack. Teachers were forced to dust off their penmanship skills as the internet took a week-long vacation. With 305GB of sensitive data allegedly stolen, the school district is still investigating and refuses to pay up, proving education doesn’t come cheap—or easy!
Hot Take:
Ah, the joys of modern education! Who needs the internet when you have good old-fashioned chalkboards and notebooks? Mecklenburg County Public Schools (MCPS) was forced to go retro when a ransomware attack by the Russian cybercrime group Qilin took them offline. And what did Qilin get out of it? A treasure trove of data, including financial records and children’s medical files. Those kids might just be learning how to write with quills and parchment soon! Superintendent Scott Worner might not want to pay the ransom, but maybe he should invest in some carrier pigeons for future communications!
Key Points:
- Russian cybercrime group Qilin claimed responsibility for the attack on Mecklenburg County Public Schools.
- The attack resulted in the theft of 305 GB of sensitive data.
- MCPS was forced to revert to offline teaching methods while systems were down.
- Qilin has been linked to over 100 confirmed ransomware incidents in 2025 alone.
- The education sector is increasingly targeted, with unique challenges in responding to breaches.