Louisiana declares state of emergency after cybercriminals attack school districts
- Louisiana's governor has declared a state of emergency over a cybersecurity issue after a series of attacks shut down phones and locked and encrypted data at three of the state's school districts.
- It's an escalation of a problem that has plagued states and cities in the past year, including Atlanta, Baltimore, several cities in Florida, and others throughout the country.
- Cybercriminals have increasingly targeted state and local governments with ransomware tools – which infect an organization's computer networks and lock up critical files in exchange for a ransom payment.
In a first for Louisiana, the governor has declared a state of emergency over a cybersecurity issue after a series of attacks shut down phones and locked and encrypted data at three of the state's school districts.
Gov. John Bel Edwards declared the emergency Wednesday. His office has said the threat is "ongoing."
It's an escalation of a problem that has plagued states and cities in the past year, including Atlanta, Baltimore, several cities in Florida, and others throughout the country. Cybercriminals have increasingly targeted state and local governments with ransomware tools – which infect an organization's computer networks and lock up critical files in exchange for a ransom payment.
Unlike most companies that have been hit by ransomware, and can handle ransomware attacks and transactions privately, states and municipalities are often forced to make their payments and woes public. The publicity around the attacks often forces governments to quickly pay up in order to get back online and keep their residents happy. This often forces a new and painful cycle that shows no signs of slowing down.
In Louisiana, the incidents have disrupted school districts in Sabine, Morehouse and Ouachita parishes in North Louisiana. Phones, files and computer equipment have been inaccessible. The districts have said federal law enforcement is helping with the issues.
"The Sabine Parish School System was hit with an electronic virus early Sunday morning," reads a statement on the school district's website. "This virus has disabled some of our technology systems and our central office phone system. The district staff reported this electronic viral attack to local law enforcement, state officials and the FBI. All available resources are being utilized to get the district systems back on line. An investigation involving local, state and federal law enforcement is ongoing at this time."
The emergency declaration allows Louisiana to access resources from the state's national guard, technology office, state police and other organizations, according to a statement from the governor's office.
Few states or cities have declared states of emergency over information technology problems, and only one agency – the Colorado Department of Transportation – has made such a declaration in the past, because of a ransomware attack.
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