The Hidden Victims of Ransomware: Children

Raise your (virtual) hand if you have NOT had your personal information compromised in some form or fashion. Given the sheer number of breaches over the past year or so – the estimated impact of the Change Healthcare breach impact has been upped to 190 million people – we’re assuming there are not a lot of you with your hand up.

As adults, we roll with it. Monitor our credit reports. Be watchful for suspicious phishing emails. It’s part of modern life at this point. But the recent PowerSchool breach brings another set of potential victims to light: children. The impact of these attacks on children can be profound, affecting them both in the near-term and long-term.

Near-term Effects

When ransomware strikes, schools often find themselves in the crosshairs. The immediate disruption to educational services can be severe, leading to lost learning time and a chaotic environment as schools scramble to restore their systems. Beyond the logistical challenges, the exposure of sensitive personal information, such as medical records and family financial details, can cause significant emotional distress for children and their families.

Long-term Consequences

The long-term effects of ransomware on children can be even more troubling. Stolen personal information, like Social Security numbers, can be used by cybercriminals to commit identity theft, potentially ruining a child’s credit before they even reach adulthood.

This can lead to difficulties in securing loans, renting apartments, or even obtaining jobs in the future. Imagine applying for your first credit card or loan, only to find out there are many already in your name. The psychological impact of knowing their personal information is out there also can lead to ongoing anxiety and trust issues.

As we deal with the ransomware threat, it’s crucial to recognize and address the unique vulnerabilities of children in the face of cyber threats. By enhancing cybersecurity measures and educating both schools and families, we can better protect our children from the hidden dangers of ransomware.

Boosting SaaS Resiliency: A Case Study

?A Boston-based EdTech company aimed to revolutionize higher education by simplifying information flow on campuses. They needed high availability for their SaaS application to meet a 99.9% SLA, especially during peak times like admissions season.

Read how it overcame challenges in maintaining system resilience, managing cloud infrastructure, and enabling continuous operation without disruption in this case study.