Colorado Department of Education Reveals Data Breach Affecting Records from Last 16 Years
The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) has informed students about a possible data breach following a ransomware attack in June. The attack, carried out by unidentified individuals, allowed unauthorized access to CDHE systems. Although the investigation is ongoing, the department has revealed that the breach compromised personal information such as names and social security numbers.
“A review of the affected records is underway, and once completed, CDHE will notify potentially affected individuals by mail or email to the extent we have contact information,” CDHE wrote in its release. However, the department warns students that the effects of the violation will extend over 16 years to several programs, from public schools to adult education projects.
In response, CDHE offers free access to Experian credit monitoring and identity theft protection to protect its information. The department recommends that affected parties keep an eye on their bank statements and credit reports for suspicious activity.
Educational systems are popular ransomware attacks. According to Emsisoft’s data, in 2022 at least 44 colleges and 45 school districts reported ransomware attacks, while in 2021 there were a total of 88 educational departments. The Government Accountability Office recommended that the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security coordinate an assessment of school cybersecurity efforts across the country.
