The latest university cyberattack has reignited the discussion
of internet and data safety in higher education. Monroe College is the latest target, with
many of its technology systems disabled and the hackers demanding
around $2 million in Bitcoin to restore access. Schools must be
aware of the prevalence of ransomware and should consider steps to
mitigate their risk of attack.
Ransomware covers a broad range of attacks
including malware or a virus that prevents users from accessing
their systems or data until the hackers have been paid. This form
of cyberattack has been on the rise in recent
years and has increased by 195% from the fourth quarter of 2018 to
the first quarter of 2019. A ransomware attack may not merely block
access to files temporarily, it could cripple an
organization’s operation, or even an entire city. In May of
2018, Atlanta city officials
reported that its internal systems were being
held hostage by ransomware, with the hackers demanding
