A data breach involving PowerSchool, a popular software provider for K-12 schools, has affected over 60 million students worldwide. The breach occurred in late December and was discovered by the company more than two weeks later.
Hackers gained unauthorized access to the software’s platforms using a remote support tool, but it remains unclear how many districts were targeted. The company is working with the FBI and CrowdStrike to determine the extent of the breach and who was behind it.
Student data stolen in the breach includes names, addresses, birth dates, and Social Security numbers. Some schools reported that their staff’s Social Security numbers and birth dates were also accessed.
PowerSchool has stated that it destroyed all the downloaded data, but some districts have expressed frustration with the company’s communication about the breach. The company claims to be providing its services normally, despite the incident.
This is not an isolated incident, as K-12 schools in the US have been victims of cyberattacks and online threats in recent years. In fact, there were 1,619 cyber incidents that struck K-12 schools nationwide between 2016 and 2022, according to the K12 Security Information Exchange.
As the investigation continues, parents and students affected by the breach should be aware that their personal data was compromised. The company is committed to protecting student data privacy, but more needs to be done to ensure the security of its platforms.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2025/01/13/powerschool-data-breach-what-to-know-students/77667159007