Valley Springs School District falls victim to cyberattack

     An area school district is the recent victim of a cyberattack. Valley Springs Schools' computer system was infected Thursday with malicious software as hackers locked access and demanded a ransom to restore its files and programs.
     According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a malicious software program known as "ransomware" locked the district's computer network until a ransom is paid. The hackers demanded a payment of 7,000 British pounds, approximately equal to $8,500 United States dollars, within 96 hours or the ransom would grow by 200 percent. Valley Springs Superintendent Judy Green told the newspaper Friday the district will not pay the ransom, and they are working to rid the system of its malicious software.
     Ransomware is designed to enter a system through an infected e-mail or Internet link. After the link is clicked on, a code will infect the computer and encrypt the system's files. Green says the district has not yet determined what may have been lost, but their student and financial information are on a state server and were not affected.
     Boone County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Tim Roberson told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the office has a school resource in the Valley Springs School District, and they are aware of the issues. Deputy Roberson also says his office has contacted the FBI.