Seminole County Clerk and Florida Education Department Report Cyberattacks
The clerk's office cut internet access after a breach, while the education agency says student Social Security numbers may be exposed.
By Daniela Ortega ·
The Seminole County Clerk of Courts reported a data breach affecting its phone systems and website on Thursday. The office disconnected from the internet to investigate the intrusion. Officials stated they found no ransomware and no compromised information.
The Florida Department of Education reported a separate breach on its financial aid website last Monday. The department said the incident may have exposed the Social Security numbers of students. The breach affected nearly 5 million people.
A cybersecurity expert said data breaches are now common enough that almost everyone has been a victim. The expert noted that cutting off outside internet access helps prevent an attacker from sending more commands. ThreatLocker, a cybersecurity firm, said common threats include phishing, misconfigurations, and stolen login credentials.
The expert warned that scammers may use the Florida Department of Education breach to send convincing emails. These messages would ask people to update account information and direct them to fake websites.
People who may be affected should consider freezing their credit with major credit bureaus. The expert advised residents to stay alert for phishing attempts. For everyone, the expert recommended a Zero Trust approach that denies access by default and allows it only by exception.
Source: WKMG-TV · original report published
