HANOVER, Va. (WWBT) – Internet service is unavailable at Hanover County Public Schools, and disruptions are expected for the rest of the week.
School officials say they have been working with cybersecurity professionals and others since Wednesday to investigate and mitigate a possible data breach/incident affecting HCPS.
Cyber security expert Don Beeler said it can be a very tedious process.
“They may have to shut down every single system in the school and do a virus scan of every single system to make sure it’s clean, including anyone’s laptop, anyone’s desktop, anyone who had access to the system,” Don Beeler, CEO of TDR Technology Solutions, said.
Student Chromebooks are on a separate Google domain and do not appear to be impacted, but Hanover schools can expect a technology-free week ahead as they try to fix the issue.
“Please be assured that teaching and learning will continue. Our teachers are planning for instruction that does not require the use of technology for at least the next week,” school officials said in a statement.
Beeler said it’s a concern anytime students data is put at risk.
“If they were able to get their personal information and use it, they could do a lot of damage and then hurt those students ability to get credit in the future, all kinds of things,” Beeler said.
Officials say they are limited in what they can share for now but will be updating families as soon as they can on the HCPS website.
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