Over 20 school districts in Long Island have fallen victim to cyberattacks, exposing records of more than 10,000 students and their personal information, according to state education data.
Last year alone, 28 cases of data breaches were reported in Long Island schools. As cybersecurity experts raise concerns about schools becoming major targets for identity thieves and ransomware groups, the vulnerabilities are particularly pronounced in districts with tight budgets.
Randy Rose, who is the vice president of security operations at the Centre for Internet Security, noted that schools house vast amounts of sensitive data. It’s not just grades that are at stake—there’s also personal and sometimes financial information, including details about students needing special assistance and those part of after-school programs.
While some incidents involved students peeking at classmates’ grades, others were more alarmingly serious. For instance, Great Neck experienced violations affecting 1,000 records, while Smithtown had around 2,400 records compromised, as per state education records.
Additionally, hacking attempts have breached crucial software used in various school districts, with Raptor Technologies—a key safety platform—impacting at least seven districts in Long Island.
Michael Nidzic, an adjunct professor at the New York Institute of Technology, expressed skepticism about the financial feasibility of the cybersecurity measures necessary to protect these districts adequately. He pointed out that districts have drawn attention from cybercriminals due to the valuable data they contain.
Interestingly, it’s often not just poor firewall protection behind these breaches. Many incidents stem from human mistakes. Data shows that around 45% of hacking cases slant toward exploiting human behavior rather than purely technical flaws, with phishing emails and disguised malware leading the charge.
The repercussions for the affected districts can be severe; cyber incidents can disrupt after-school programs, delay lunch services, and interfere with statewide assessments.
For the students, the consequences can be even more dire. Issues like identity theft can affect their credit scores, complicating future financial endeavors—like applying for student loans or opening bank accounts. “When it’s time for college or getting your first credit card, they could find themselves in trouble,” Rose noted.
Despite the new state budget providing significant additional funding for public education—about $270 million for Long Island—how individual districts choose to allocate those funds remains uncertain.
