Richmond Public Schools ransomware attack exposes personal data on dark web
Richmond Public Schools in Virginia suffered a ransomware attack in October that disrupted its wireless network, telephones, educational devices and access to PowerSchool. Personal information belonging to current and former pupils, staff and people associated with contractors was subsequently confirmed to have been posted on the dark web. The school district is offering free identity and credit monitoring and is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), state police and external experts to operate a temporary network, restore systems and conduct a forensic investigation.
Key facts
- Affected organisation
- Richmond Public Schools
- Incident type
- Ransomware
- Occurred / detected
- 2026-10
- Scale of damage
- Exposure of personal information belonging to current and former pupils, staff and people associated with contractors, alongside disruption to school systems
- Cause / method
- Ransomware attack
- Location
- United States
Timeline
- A ransomware attack was reported to have taken school systems offline, with the attackers threatening to release data.
- The school district offered free identity and credit monitoring.
- The FBI's involvement in the investigation was reported.
- The school district worked with the FBI and state police to restore systems.
- The school district confirmed that personal information had been posted on the dark web and operated a temporary network while conducting a forensic investigation.
16 related reports
- We need answers’: Richmond parents react to school division cybersecurity incident
- Ransomware Attack Forces Richmond, Va., Schools Offline
- Hackers breach Richmond Public Schools, threaten to leak data
- RPS offering free identity and credit monitoring in wake of 'cybersecurity incident'
- The week in breach news Oct 28, 2026
- FBI involved in investigation into RPS cyberattack, officials say
- Richmond Public Schools turns to FBI, third party after cyberattack
- Richmond schools work with FBI, state police to restore systems after cyberattack
- Richmond student, staff data may have ended up on dark web after cyberattack
- RPS gives an update on cyberattack threat
- Richmond Public Schools says forensic audit is underway after October cyberattack
- RPS technology director left weeks before cyber attack that put personal information on dark web
- Richmond Schools respond as cyberattack data hits the dark web: 'Deeply disturbed'
- Richmond Schools say cyberattack data reached the dark web
- RPS data breach: Former students at risk after dark web leak
- Richmond schools superintendent responds after student and staff data from cyberattack appears on dark web
The summary and key facts are written by AI from related reports and may contain errors. Check the original articles and the organisation’s official statements for accurate details.