"White House Takes Action: Summit Addresses Ransomware Crisis in Public Schools"

The White House held its first-ever cybersecurity summit on the ransomware crisis affecting U.S. schools, where criminal hackers have been stealing and dumping sensitive student data. At least 48 districts have been hit by ransomware attacks this year, with data stolen in all but 10 cases. The summit aimed to raise awareness and provide federal resources to combat the issue, including tailored security assessments, grants, and support from technology providers. However, experts noted that limited federal funds currently exist to address the problem, and school districts have been ill-equipped to defend against these attacks. The lasting impact of these attacks goes beyond financial costs, with the exposure of private records causing trauma for staff, students, and parents.