Hackers Target Student Data as Schools Report Increasing Cyberattacks

Cyber attacks are increasingly hitting schools in the U.S., targeting sensitive student data.

Laura Sprague is spokesperson for the Johnston Community School District in Iowa, one of dozens of school systems that have been targeted by cyberthieves in recent months. She says that in her Iowa district, the attack was two-pronged. First, families received physical threats against students and schools. Then, the hackers accessed student data files. "That was new territory for us," she says.

And it is for many other schools districts, too. When sophisticated hackers go after student data like social security numbers to demand ransoms, many schools are not prepared. The federal government has even issued a new warning about the risks, which appear to be on the rise.

Doug Levin is president of EdTech strategies, a research and consulting company focused on education and technology. He joins The Takeaway to explain why hackers are zeroing in on schools and students.

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.