The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) believes it was hit with a ransomware cyber attack Monday, leading to a disruption in its computer system.

The school district announced the technical issues at 3:46 p.m., letting students, teachers and parents know that access to email, grades and other online services would be temporarily suspended.

It was not until after 10 p.m. that the district announced that the issues were believed to be caused by a “targeted” ransomware attack.

“Los Angeles Unified detected unusual activity in its Information Technology systems over the weekend, which after initial review, can be confirmed as an external cyber attack on our Information Technology assets,” LAUSD wrote in an update. “Since the identification of the incident, which is likely criminal in nature, we continue to assess the situation with law enforcement agencies.”

Despite the attack, LAUSD said it would resume classes Tuesday, after observing Labor Day on Monday, as the district believes daily functions for classes, transportation and food will not be impacted by the attack.


The district update added that the attack did not reach critical infrastructure involving employee healthcare, nor payroll.

“Los Angeles Unified is immediately establishing a plan of action, informed by top public and private sector technology and cyber security professionals, to determine additional protections for the District, and to provide an independent opinion on system-wide protective measures,” LAUSD said. “We will continue to benefit from the declared assistance of federal and state law enforcement entities to assist with investigative procedures and technical deployment and solutions. Presently, federal investigative and technical experts are working on-site, collaboratively, with the Information Technology Division.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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