4. PowerSchool confirms information violation affecting millions of individuals
In February, one of the biggest security incidents in the story of education took center stage. According to PowerSchool, one of the largest providers of student information systems ( SIS ) in the US, millions of student records were uncovered as a result of unauthorised access.
The breach, which took place through a stolen password on a program without multi-factor identification, exposed names, birthdates, contact information, and, in some cases, Social Security numbers and health records. Although experts remain unsure about whether the stolen data was really erased, PowerSchool has as paid a ransom.