ROCKFORD, Mich. — Staff at Rockford Public Schools walked into a surprise this morning with technology across the district being down and a ransom note laying on printers in multiple buildings.
Superintendent Steve Matthews tells FOX 17 that computers, internet service, and hard-line phones are offline at all district buildings. A letter printed out at several locations claims the school system was hit by a ransomware attack. “We got some random messages that popped up on some printers throughout the district.”said Dr. Matthews.
"Your data is stolen and encrypted," the note reads. "If you don't pay the ransom, the data will be published on our TOR darknet sites. The sooner you pay the ransom, the sooner your company will be safe."
"We are not a politically motivated group and we want nothing more than money," the letter continued. "If you pay, we will provide you with decryption software."
The note demands the district pay an undisclosed amount of money to decrypt its data and warns leaders to not go to the police.
With no internet teachers and students were left learning the old-fashioned way. Dr. Matthews saying, “It'll be more old school than typical. kids won't have access to computers and, and the network. And so, there'll be doing things with books and paper and pencil, just like we used to do a long time ago.” Students say it was strange not to have technology. Sophomore Tatum Konecsni said, "For like our English class all we did most of the hour was read books or learn about basic grammar but for our other classes we just sat there and talked to each other.”
Superintendent Matthews says they are working with the Kent County Sheriff's Office and FBI. and says, "All students and staff are safe; the buildings are secure. and so, it's not a safety issue, just right now it's a very much of an inconvenience.”
Classes are continuing Wednesday, just without technology. Superintendent Matthews tells FOX 17 there are no plans to cancel school during the technology outage.
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