Recently, Skidmore College reported that a ransomware attack had led to a data breach exposing the personal details of over 121,000 individuals. This information was revealed through a notice of data breach filed by the college with the Attorney General of Maine on September 15, 2023.
We learn from this summary on
JDSupra that Skidmore College discovered an unauthorized party had accessed the school’s IT network. Significantly, this incident allowed the unauthorized party to access consumers’ sensitive information, including their names and Social Security numbers.
The extent of the breach and how the intruders managed to bypass Skidmore’s cyber defenses has yet to be fully explained. However, at a time when educational institutions become increasingly attractive targets for attackers, it is a strong reminder for our corporate and legal readership to stay vigilant against the continuous threats of cybercrime.
Moreover, this incident underscores the essential role that tips and alerts are playing in identifying potential cyber threats. In recent years, we’ve seen a clear trend: Prompt reporting and efficient response measures have become the bedrock of effective cybersecurity strategy in the legal sphere.
This incident at Skidmore College is an unfortunate glimpse into a growing cybersecurity threat facing institutions around the world. Legal professionals can play a pivotal role in crafting policies and strategies to respond to these types of cyber threats, ensuring the protection and integrity of sensitive data.