Toledo Public Schools sends cyber attack explanation letter to parents
TPS is spending more than $75,000 on cyber security experts.
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) -Toledo Public Schools officials have sent out letters to staff members and students whose personal information was leaked online after the school district’s computer system was attacked.
“I was actually leaving and got the mail and opened it. I had to pull over because I was that discouraged by it. I was like, this is my child’s information. It’s embarrassing and it’s scary,” said TPS parent Marie Davis.
The letter explains what happened, what information was involved, what TPS did, and what it is doing, also what parents or guardians can do.
TPS parent Marie Davis says she was terribly concerned when she read the letter from TPS detailing the school’s cyber attack, which t may have compromised each of her three kids' personal information.
“I just thoroughly read the letter like two times. On the paper it says address, emails basically the whole identity, Social Security number, everything,” said Davis.
A month ago 13abc’s I-Team broke the story that names and social security numbers of current and former students, as well as employees, were leaked online after the district’s email system was hacked. Toledo Police linked the data breach to a cyber attack that happened on the first day of school when the district’s internet and email systems were disabled.
TPS is now spending more than $75,000 on cybersecurity experts. Those experts have recommended that victims of the attack check their credit reports. The district is providing identity theft and credit monitoring services for everyone whose secure files were stolen. Davis says she will take advantage of it.
“Most definitely I will because I’m scared,” said Davis.
13abc reached out to TPS on Monday to get a comment, and a spokesperson says there are no additional comments.
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