Ransomware attacks are increasingly targeting UK educational establishments, according to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Schools, colleges, and universities have been the victims of recent attempts to hold data for ransom, evidently pointing to an ongoing trend: Ransomware operators are attacking sectors when they are highly vulnerable. The cautious return of students to scholastic institutions during a pandemic, coupled with the strain of remote studying and teaching, is lending education an air of susceptibility to cyber attack. This strengthens the appeal of targeting the sector with ransomware, as seen in early 2020 with the healthcare sector. Ransomware operators will also likely zero in on other sectors and geographies that are struggling with the pandemic, potentially including victims involved in travel and leisure, hospitality, and the public sector.

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