Ransomware Attack on Hesperia Unified School District by LockBit 3.0
Incident Date:
May 16, 2024
Overview
Title
Ransomware Attack on Hesperia Unified School District by LockBit 3.0
Victim
The Hesperia Unified School District
Attacker
Lockbit3
Location
First Reported
May 16, 2024
Ransomware Attack on Hesperia Unified School District by LockBit 3.0
Victim Overview
The Hesperia Unified School District, located in Hesperia, California, is a public school district serving students in the area, including elementary, middle, and high schools. The district is known for its diverse student population, with 17.6% of students identified as English Language Learners (ELLs).
Company Standout and Size
The Hesperia Unified School District stands out in the education sector for its diverse student population, reflecting the community it serves. The school district is a sizable educational institution with a workforce ranging between 1,001 and 5,000 employees. Their annual revenue stands at $306M reflecting the significant scale of their operations within the education sector.
Vulnerabilities
As an educational institution, the Hesperia Unified School District may be vulnerable to cyber attacks due to the sensitive nature of student data and the reliance on digital systems for educational purposes.
Attack Overview
The cybercrime group LockBit targeted the Hesperia Unified School District's website using ransomware to compromise their systems.
Ransomware Group: LockBit 3.0
LockBit 3.0 is a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group that evolved from the original LockBit group. It is known for its advanced capabilities, including file encryption, desktop modifications, and obfuscation to evade detection.
Penetration Method
LockBit 3.0 likely penetrated the Hesperia Unified School District's systems through phishing emails, vulnerable software, or weak security measures, allowing them to encrypt files and demand ransom.
Sources:
Recent Ransomware Attacks
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