Ah, autumn. A season of fresh starts, cooler weather, and a renewed sense of purpose as students and teachers return to their classrooms. As the anticipation of new lessons, friendships, and memories builds, there's an unpleasant side to this season that often goes unnoticed: school cyberattacks.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) in the US, and for good reason — as schools settle into another academic year, cyber hackers are preparing for their version of “back-to-school” season.

Here's a scary thought: The U.S. Department of Education now says school districts experience an average of five cyber incidents per week. Yikes.

Scan the headlines, and you'll see plenty of stories about ransomware in schools across the country. Just as students were ready to start the new year, hackers targeting schools accessed students' and teachers' personal information in one school system.

The district reacted and, out of an abundance of caution, mandated a password reset for its network and systems, and issued all students new passwords for the upcoming school year.

They certainly aren't alone…In one ransomware attack, bad actors forced a district to close schools for much of a week. According to district officials, the incident affected everything from phones and air-conditioning controls to camera monitoring, visitor management, the student information system, and other essential services.

In another instance, within the first week of September, one district had to revise its entire academic calendar to make up for lost days after closing due to a cyberattack.

The Opportunity for Hackers

Schools in the throes of reopening are a goldmine for hackers. Think about it: amid the whirlwind of first-day jitters, orientation sessions, and system updates, it's easy for bad actors to slip through the cracks, especially when schools rely on plugins used with open-source solutions like Drupal and WordPress.

Keep Reading: Are Open Source Websites Safe?

With all hands on deck to make the school experience smooth and memorable, schools put their focus on getting students and staff settled, inadvertently sidelining school cybersecurity concerns.

New faculty and staff, despite their enthusiasm, might not be immediately in tune with your school's IT policies, and let's not forget the new parents and guardians, who, in their eagerness to support their child's education, might click on a seemingly harmless link or innocently hand over personal student information or medical records.

Recent incidents show how quickly a cyberattack can affect everyday school operations.  One Pennsylvania district canceled classes for three days after ransomware was detected on its network, affecting access to technology and systems used for school communications and security.

Back in 2025, districts affected by a PowerSchool data breach also faced extortion attempts involving previously stolen student and educator information. These incidents remind us that K–12 cybersecurity extends beyond devices and passwords to the infrastructure schools rely on every day.

Back-to-School Hacking Strategies Used by Cyber Criminals

As schools throw open their classroom doors, cybercriminals unfortunately gear up with strategies that target this very season. Be on the lookout for:

• Targeted Phishing: Capitalizing on the "back-to-school" rush, hackers create authentic-looking emails, potentially tricking new teachers or even seasoned staff into revealing sensitive information.
   
• Exploiting System Overhauls: Many schools update their software or digital systems during the summer break. Hackers look for weak points in these new systems to breach security and cause havoc.
   
• Fake School Forms: Creating fake school forms to dupe parents and students into entering personal information, which is then used for malicious intent.
   
• Impersonation of New School Administrators: Families, especially those new to a school, might not yet recognize all staff members' names or roles. Cybercriminals exploit this by impersonating new school administrators in emails or texts, often requesting sensitive information or payments.
   
• Bogus Fee Scams: The start of the school year often means fees for various activities. Hackers might send false notifications demanding payments, leading unsuspecting parents to pay up.

Review and Reinforce K-12 Cybersecurity in Schools

With Cybersecurity Month, the fall season should also be synonymous with cybersecurity reviews. It's a strategic point in the academic calendar where schools can hit "refresh" on their digital safety protocols:

For School Communication Offices

Your school community should stay proactive against cyber threats—cybersecurity can’t be an afterthought. Regular alerts and reminders can help the school community be aware of the ever-evolving threats.

• Educate the Community: Empower parents and students with knowledge through specially organized cybersecurity sessions.
• Team Up: Create a close-knit relationship with your school or district's IT department to ensure a unified front against potential threats.
• Keep the Lines Open: Establishing an accessible channel for quick reporting can prevent small threats from escalating.

For School IT Professionals

Training is key. The start of the school year is ideal for refreshing cybersecurity training for everyone.

• Stay Updated: Outdated systems are a hacker's dream. Ensure your school's networks and systems are updated routinely.
• Advocate for Strong Security Practices: Reinforce the importance of solid passwords, updating software, and multi-factor authentication.
• Access Control: Regularly review and adjust the permission settings of who has access to critical data and key areas of your website and portals.

Promoting a Collaborative Environment

There’s never been a better time for open communication. Open dialogues between departments can address potential blind spots in cybersecurity.

• Encourage Reporting: A vigilant student, parent, or teacher can be the first line of defense against a cyber breach. Create an environment where they can easily report anomalies.
• Stay Vigilant: Be aware and recognize those who demonstrate exceptional digital safety awareness can set a positive precedent.

Key Takeaway

The start of the academic year and the coming months are an exciting return to campus, but ensuring your school’s community remains vigilant against ransomware and cyberattacks is essential. Cybersecurity requires the concerted effort of students, teachers, staff, and parents, all year long, not just in the fall.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Connor has spent the last decade within the field of marketing and communications, working with independent schools and colleges throughout New England. As Finalsite’s Senior Content Marketing Manager, Connor plans and executes marketing strategies and digital content across the web. A former photojournalist, he has a passion for digital media, storytelling, coffee, and creating content that connects.