List of Ransomware Attacks Against Schools in 2021
| Tracking # |
FL-OM-21/993 |
| Submitted | Aug. 4, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Allan Liska
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law, I hereby request the following records:
A list of all schools or school districts in New York that have been victims of ransomware attacks in 2021 through July 31st. If possible, I'd like the school/district name, date of attack and the ransomware strain involved.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Allan Liska
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following New York Freedom of Information Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2021. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: New York State Education Department
Dear Mr. Liska:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for State Education Department (SED) records regarding ransomware attacks. The reference number for this request is FL-OM-21/993. Please be advised that you will hear further from the Department by approximately September 9, 2021 as to whether your request will be granted or denied in whole or in part.
SED charges the statutorily permitted fee of $.25 per page for duplication of records requested under FOIL (Public Officers Law §87[1][b][iii]). There is no provision in law or regulation requiring the waiver of this fee. Payment must be made to the NYS Education Department by check or money order. Do not send any payment until you are notified that your request is granted and informed of the charge for your request. If your request is for electronic records and your request is granted, the records will be provided to you in that format.
If your request is granted one of the following will happen:
1. If your request can be filled immediately, and the total duplication fee is under $25.00, staff will forward the requested records to you with a statement what you owe for the duplication fee. Or:
2. If the total duplication fee for your request is $25.00 or more (100 pages), you will be advised of the page count and duplication fee owed in advance of duplicating the records. Upon receipt of payment, staff will duplicate and mail the requested records. Or:
3. If it will take time to locate and/or duplicate the records you have requested, you will be given a date by which you will be told the page count and duplication fee for your request.
Regards,
Records Access Officer
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~WRD0003
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following New York Freedom of Information Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2021. You previously indicated that it would be completed on Sept. 9, 2021. I wanted to let you know that I am still interested in the following documents, and to see if that date was still accurate. You had assigned it reference number #FL-OM-21/993.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following New York Freedom of Information Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2021. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Sept. 9, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #FL-OM-21/993.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: New York State Education Department
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 117227
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
Via Email: requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
Re: FOIL REQUEST - FL-OM-21/993
Dear Mr. Liska:
This is in response to your Freedom of Information Law request FL-OM-21/993 for copies of State Education Department (hereinafter "SED") records consisting of "[a] list of all schools or school districts in New York that have been victims of ransomware attacks in 2021 through July 31st. If possible, I'd like the school/district name, date of attack and the ransomware strain involved."
SED has information concerning one school district with a confirmed ransomware incident that was reported to us, and which is responsive to your request. However, while we recognize that some information about ransomware attacks in public schools have been publicly reported by others, SED cannot disclose the information requested as doing so could compromise the security of the school district's technology assets. See Public Officers Law §87(2)(i).
To file an appeal pursuant to FOIL, please send an email within thirty (30) days to FOILappeal@nysed.gov<mailto:FOILappeal@nysed.gov> or by writing to:
Betty Rosa
Interim Commissioner of Education
NYS Education Department
Room 111, Education Building
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
Sincerely,
/s/ Tope Akinyemi
Tope Akinyemi
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~WRD1044