Parents react: Oneonta school district closed through Monday after ransomware attack | #ransomware | #cybercrime

ONEONTA, N.Y. (WBNG) — The Oneonta City School District is closed Friday and Monday after a ransomware attack disrupted the district’s computer systems.The district closed schools Friday after what officials initially believed were internal technology issues that turned out to be something else.Serena Baddeley, a parent of a second grader at Riverside Elementary, said the cyberattack was initially a program that made the school’s programs go down.“Later, we found out that they were informed that it was a ransomware attack,” Baddeley said. “It is always a pretty scary thing when you do find out about data breaches.”A ransomware attack blocks access to a computer, network, or important files, usually by encrypting them, and demands a financial ransom to restore access.The district’s technology team has taken steps to limit further unauthorized access and potential damage, closing schools in the district until Tuesday, Oct. 27. Officials said they are also investigating whether student records or other personal information may have been compromised.Parents said the unexpected closure creates challenges for working parents who now have to adjust their schedules and find care for their children. Some also said there needs to be more security in schools to prevent further attacks.“And I just think that this is more of a concern for parents and the school district to come together and figure out how we can place more security into our schools,” Braddeley said.Schools will remain closed to students Monday. The day will instead serve as a superintendent’s conference day, with staff reporting to their buildings to prepare for students to return Tuesday.All-day BOCES students will attend their programs as scheduled, while morning and afternoon BOCES students will stay home. Athletic practices and events are also expected to continue as scheduled.At this time, the district says it is working with a third-party cybersecurity firm to assess the full scope and impact of the incident.Copyright 2026 WBNG. All rights reserved.

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