Ransomware, Critical Infrastructure Security

Ransomware attack hits Toronto school board’s test environment

Image of ransomware, computer language, circuit board pattern over data server room

Canada's largest school board, the Toronto District School Board, had its technology testing environment subjected to a ransomware intrusion, according to The Record, a news site by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future.

Immediate data security efforts have been deployed following the discovery of the incident, which did not affect TDSB's other systems as the test environment has been located in a separate network, said Toronto Director of Education Colleen Russell-Rawlins and TDSB Associate Director Stacey Zucker.

"We are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the nature of the incident, any impact on our network, and if any personal information may have been affected by the incident. Out of an abundance of caution, we have notified the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario," they said.

Such an incident follows a series of ransomware attacks across the city, which have impacted its library system, zoo, transportation services, and its leading children's healthcare provider.

An In-Depth Guide to Ransomware

Get essential knowledge and practical strategies to protect your organization from ransomware attacks.

Get daily email updates

SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news

By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You can skip this ad in 5 seconds