Lexington, South Carolina, August 28, 2025
News Summary
The Lexington-Richland School District Five has confirmed that it will not pay a ransom to hackers who orchestrated a cyberattack affecting personal information of former students. Despite the breach leading to significant disruptions, Superintendent Akil Ross emphasized the importance of resisting ransom demands. The investigation continues, and the district is providing credit monitoring services to affected individuals to help mitigate potential risks associated with the data exposure.
Lexington, South Carolina – The Lexington-Richland School District Five has confirmed that it will not pay a ransom demanded by hackers following a serious cyberattack that compromised some former students’ personal information. Superintendent Akil Ross disclosed the decision during a recent virtual town hall meeting, emphasizing the importance of resisting such demands to deter future cybercrimes.
The cyberattack, which took place in June, resulted in a significant disruption to the district’s computer systems. Access to online resources was denied for staff and students, causing delays in year-end bonuses for teachers and staff and hindering the start of high school summer classes in both Chapin and Irmo. Reports indicate that the district lost access to its systems around 6:30 a.m. on the day of the incident.
As part of their response, the district contacted law enforcement and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to initiate an investigation into the cyberattack. The specific ransom amount requested by the hackers has not been disclosed. However, it has been confirmed that an online forum associated with the criminal group included personal data such as names, addresses, and Social Security numbers of some former students.
Cybersecurity expert Jack Jupin, a former FBI agent, advised against paying ransoms, stating that doing so could encourage more attacks. He noted that the criminals are often more interested in financial gain rather than the sensitive data they expose during such incidents. Investigators are currently assessing over 1.03 terabytes of data connected to the breach.
Despite previous improvements to their security measures, which led to a reduced co-pay for the district’s cybersecurity insurance due to successful security tests, the breach was traced back to an employee opening a phishing email. Phishing attacks have become increasingly common in recent years, presenting a significant threat to organizations by tricking individuals into providing access to sensitive information or systems.
As a precautionary measure, the school district will offer credit monitoring and identity theft protection services for affected individuals, including current district staff. As mandated by state law, these services will last for 12 months but can be extended if any stolen information is uncovered. The costs associated with these monitoring services will be covered by the district’s cybersecurity insurance.
The district has encouraged community members to send any questions regarding the incident to a dedicated email address: LexRich5SecurityIncident@lexrich5.org. Presently, employees are unable to access their accounts, and students are experiencing complications with attendance in virtual classes.
This incident highlights the challenges education institutions face in maintaining cybersecurity, particularly as cyberattacks become more sophisticated. The Lexington-Richland School District is committed to enhancing its security measures in the wake of this breach to protect its students and staff moving forward.
FAQ
What caused the cyberattack on Lexington-Richland School District Five?
What information was compromised during the cyberattack?
Will the school district pay the ransom demanded by the hackers?
What measures are being taken to support affected individuals?
Who should community members contact with questions about the cyberattack?
Key Features of the Cyberattack Incident
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Cyberattack |
| Date of Breach | June |
| Compromised Data | Names, addresses, Social Security numbers of former students |
| Ransom Payment | Declined |
| Response Measures | Credit monitoring, identity theft protection |
| Investigation Status | Ongoing with law enforcement and SLED |
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Additional Resources
- GovTech: Midlands School District Rejects Hacker’s Demand for Ransom
- Wikipedia: Cybersecurity
- WIS TV: Lexington-Richland Five School District Suffers Security Breach
- Google Search: lexington richland five cyberattack
- The State: Cyberattack on Lexington-Richland School District
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cybercrime
- Post and Courier: Lexington-Richland School District Five Hack
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