A nationwide data breach has affected school districts in Massachusetts, targeting PowerSchool, a popular student information system. The breach may have exposed sensitive information, including names, addresses, medical records, and Social Security numbers, as reported by NBC Boston.
Dr. David Lussier, Superintendent of Wellesley Public Schools, informed families about a data breach caused by a stolen credential from PowerSchool’s customer support portal. This breach exposed sensitive data, including addresses, grades, and Social Security Numbers, from schools nationwide. PowerSchool has strengthened security measures, and the full extent of the breach is still being assessed. Cybersecurity expert Frederick Scholl said, "It seems like it was caused by a stolen credential from one of their administrative people, and this you know, this shouldn't be happening." PowerSchool reportedly paid the hacker to delete the stolen data, though the details remain unclear, as stated by NBC Boston.
Superintendents in Needham and Holliston, Massachusetts, are investigating a cyber breach involving PowerSchool, which manages school data. Law enforcement is also involved. The full impact is still unknown, but PowerSchool is offering credit monitoring for adults and identity protection for minors affected, according to WCVB.
