$2 Million Bitcoin Ransom Demanded by Hacker Threatening to Leak Student Data
In a shocking and alarming incident, a hacker known as Sp1d3r has demanded a ransom of $2 million in Bitcoin to prevent the public release of sensitive information belonging to millions of students in the United States. The security breach, which appears to be part of a larger attack on a cloud database, has put the personal data of students from kindergarten to 12th grade at risk of being leaked.
The Attack and the Demands
On Tuesday, two educational institutions in the US received a warning that their sensitive information had been hacked. The hacker, Sp1d3r, announced that the data of over 4 million US students was at risk of being publicly leaked. The stolen information includes names, addresses, financial details, discipline records, grades, GPAs, and performance scoring. Additionally, the hacker has obtained medical information and the online login credentials of the students’ parents.
The hacker claims to have stolen the information from Los Alamos Public Schools and Edgenuity, an online learning platform. The data was allegedly taken from Edgenuity and LASchools.net’s Snowflake accounts. The victims have until June 25 to make the payment in Bitcoin, which is equivalent to 30 Bitcoin.
The Broader Cyberattack
This incident is part of a larger series of targeted cyberattacks against Snowflake users who do not have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled. According to Bloomberg, the hackers are demanding payments ranging from $300,000 to $5 million for the sensitive stolen data.
The Consequences
The potential leak of this sensitive information poses significant risks to the privacy and security of the students and their families. The release of such data could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other forms of exploitation. The incident highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, particularly in the education sector, where sensitive information is often stored.
The Response
The educational institutions affected by the breach have not yet commented on the incident. It remains to be seen whether they will comply with the hacker’s demands or take alternative measures to protect the stolen data.
Students and parents may worry about the potential consequences of their personal data being leaked online, such as identity theft, financial fraud, or even physical harm.
The incident may erode trust in the school’s ability to protect sensitive information, leading to a loss of confidence in the institution. Students, especially those who have experienced trauma or have sensitive information in their records, may feel vulnerable and anxious about the potential exposure of their personal data.
Parents and students may demand that the school takes immediate action to contain the breach, notify affected individuals, and provide support and resources to those impacted. Students may worry about the potential impact on their academic performance, college applications, or future opportunities if their personal data is leaked.
Angel Marinov is the Managing Editor at Coinlabz. With extensive knowledge of crypto payments and blockchain use cases, Angel is a trusted source of accurate and timely information
