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Cyberattack against Regina Public Schools likely ransomware | CBC News Loaded
Saskatchewan
CYBERATTACK AGAINST REGINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS LIKELY RANSOMWARE
A ransom note displayed on some Regina Public Schools computers indicates a
recent cyberattack was a ransomware attack.
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'I THINK IT'S A SERIOUS BREACH. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT,' SAYS EXPERT
Alexander Quon · CBC News · Posted: May 28, 2022 4:00 AM CT | Last Updated: May
28
More details have emerged about the type of cyberattack that has targeted Regina
Public Schools. (Matthew Howard/CBC)
8
comments
New information has emerged about the recent cyberattack that targeted Regina
Public Schools, forcing it to shut down all internet-based systems such as email
and other education tools.
CBC News has reviewed a copy of a note that has appeared on computers that were
part of the school district's network.
The note says it is from an organization called BlackCat/ALPHV, which experts
say is well known for employing ransomware attacks.
The note alleges that 500 gigabytes of files belonging to Regina Public Schools
have been encrypted and that the group now possesses copies of data ranging from
tax reports and health information to passports and social insurance numbers.
"I think it's a serious breach. There's no doubt about it," said Alec Couros, a
professor of educational technology and media at the University of Regina.
* Cyberattack downs Regina Public Schools' computer systems
* Regina Public Schools computer systems offline after 'network-wide incident'
* $62.3M for eHealth Sask. upgrades not enough, cybersecurity experts warn
WHAT IS RANSOMWARE?
David Shipley, a cybersecurity expert based in New Brunswick, told CBC News that
ransomware is the No. 1 threat to organizations that operate in the digital
world.
Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts data and allows the information
to be held ransom. The person or group behind the attack then offers to reverse
the encryption in exchange for cash or, more commonly these days,
cryptocurrency.
"It can also be used to cripple devices and make it just impossible to use the
IT systems of a modern organization. It grinds any organization, whether it's a
business, a hospital, a school, to a complete halt," Shipley said on Friday.
David Shipley is the CEO of Beauceron Security CEO and a cybersecurity expert.
(Jonathan Collicott/CBC)
Ransomware can make its way into an organization's systems in multiple ways,
Shipley said.
That can include phishing emails that trick someone into providing access,
unsecured remote access to the network or unpatched servers and systems.
Although the school division has said the attack began on Sunday, it has not
stated how it began.
LISTEN | The battle against ransomware:
6:38The battle against ransomware
Tech columnist Mohit Rajhans says the battle against ransomware attacks is
becoming more sophisticated.
BlackCat/ALPHV is a criminal gang previously known as DarkSide, which famously
shut down a U.S. pipeline last year.
The response to that cyberattack and the attention it drew has meant rebranding
for the organization, which operates on a global scale.
"They've got a sophisticated business model, and they're brutal at what they
do," said Shipley, who describes BlackCat/ALPHV as well-financed and
well-resourced.
As of March, the FBI reported the organization had compromised at least 60
entities worldwide through ransomware attacks.
FEARS FROM TEACHERS
The cyberattack against Regina Public Schools has many teachers worried about
what kind of data has been exposed, according to the Patrick Maze, president of
the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation.
"There are some concerns around confidential material potentially being
breached," said Maze.
"We know that there's lots of student data that school divisions maintain and we
know there's also, of course, personnel data … that would contain financial
information and personal confidential information."
Patrick Maze says teachers have expressed concern over their information being
exposed due to the cyberattack that targeted Regina Public Schools. (Bryan
Eneas/CBC)
The impact on day-to-day teaching is hard to assess. Many of the online tools
that teachers became reliant on over the course of the pandemic and remote
learning are now gone.
The attack could not have come at a worse time. The school year is ending in
Saskatchewan and that means grading is due soon.
Online systems that store grades or allow teachers to record progress are not
currently available. Even the program for attendance is offline, forcing
teachers to go back to pen and paper.
"It's a difficult time for staff and we just hope that they're able to get
through this and preserve as much student work and conduct final assessments as
efficiently as possible," Maze said.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
Shipley said the school district did the right thing by immediately isolating
and shutting down its online systems in an attempt to limit the scale of the
attack.
The school division has limited options to get its data back, Shipley and Couros
said. Shipley stressed that even if the ransom is paid, there is never a
guarantee the data will be turned over.
Other options include rebuilding the entire network off of backups — something
that the City of Saint John chose to do in 2020 instead of paying the ransom,
estimated to be between $17 million and $20 million worth of Bitcoin.
WATCH | Cyberattack on N.L. health-care system worst in Canadian history, expert
says:
CYBERATTACK ON N.L. HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM WORST IN CANADIAN HISTORY: EXPERT
7 months ago
Duration 3:31
One cybersecurity expert says the cyberattack on the Newfoundland and Labrador
health-care system may be the worst in Canadian history and has implications for
national security.
Shipley said the timeline for rebuilding networks from backups can be weeks or
months. Couros said criminal organizations can set long-term deadlines or
threaten to delete or leak the information on a short deadline.
"That puts a lot of pressure to act quickly, especially if it is a credible
threat, and it makes it very difficult to find out exactly what's been taken,
because you may not know the full extent of the penetration into your systems,"
said Couros.
* CBC Investigates
Long before N.L. cyberattack, report flagged flaws in system
* Hackers claim they've sold some SLGA data onto 'black market,' put rest on
dark web
* CBC Investigates
Inside Saint John's response to a 'devastating' cyberattack
Only Regina Public Schools and the cybersecurity experts they have brought in to
assist know what solution they've chosen and what timeline they've been given by
the criminal organization.
Multiple requests for comment with Regina Public Schools left throughout this
week have not been returned.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexander Quon
Reporter
Alexander Quon was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. He has an interest
in data reporting and political coverage. You'll find him reporting on COVID-19,
Regina city council and provincial politics. He started at CBC Saskatchewan in
2021 after spending the first four years of his career in Atlantic Canada.
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With files from Jessie Anton and Karissa Donkin
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