Cyberattack attempts force Albany school district offline and disrupt digital instruction

The City School District of Albany detected repeated cyberattack attempts against its computer systems beginning November 5, 2022. To contain the threat, the district disconnected its Internet connection and instructed teachers and students to stop using Internet-dependent resources, including district-issued Chromebooks and hotspots. Teachers consequently lost access to cloud-hosted lesson plans, online instructional applications and email, requiring alternative teaching materials and manual coordination. In-person instruction continued, but the district's digital educational delivery was materially degraded. Some system access remained unavailable during the phased restoration reported on November 16. District officials stated that the attacks did not appear to have resulted in successful unauthorized access or data theft.