Ransomware closes Illinois high school as Welsh schools disclose separate breach

Evanston Township High School near Chicago shut down until Wednesday after a ransomware attack crippled phone systems, email, and network access, forcing staff to work from home without access to Google accounts or eSchool. The district activated incident response, engaged forensic experts, and notified the FBI, though no ransomware group has claimed responsibility yet. In a separate incident, Powys Council in Wales disclosed that 13 schools were affected by a cyberattack that accessed personal data of staff and pupils, though all schools remain open. The incidents highlight education's continued vulnerability to financially motivated cybercriminals seeking sensitive data for extortion.