Ransomware Reference Materials for Parents, Teachers and School Administrators

Best practices for non-technical staff as well as parents and teachers to enhance a school's security poster during distance and hybrid learning conditions.

  • Webinar: K-12 Education Leaders’ Guide to Ransomware: Prevention, Response, and Recovery
    • Co-hosted by CISA and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), this webinar, moderated by Kelvin Coleman, Executive Director, NCSA, features a discussion with Bridgette Walsh, CISA Acting Deputy Assistant Director, Stakeholder Engagement, and Ryan Kalember, Executive Vice President, Proofpoint, Inc. The panel focuses on the evolving K-12 ransomware threat landscape, some common attack vectors, and resources available to our schools to prevent, respond to, and recover from a ransomware incident. 
  • Secure Video Conferencing for School
    • A CISA videoconferencing product, including tip sheet, for school district and campus IT administrators and staff charged with securing their IT networks, as well as end users such as teachers to help them think through cybersecurity issues.
  • Cybersecurity in the Classroom
    • The DHS Cybersecurity Education Training Assistance Program (CETAP)equips K-12 teachers with cybersecurity curricula and education tools. This resource includes project-driven Curricula (e.g., lesson plans, assessments); programs (e.g., hands-on cybersecurity learning activities for middle-school and high-school students); and Student Resources for students, parents, and activity leaders looking to enhance students’ awareness of STEM, computer science, and cyber topics.
  • CISA’s Top Tips for Virtual Learning
    • Stop.Think.Connect. product providing valuable resources and recommendations for students and teachers, including proactive steps to secure online conferencing and safeguard information, with concrete do’s and don’ts to help keep learners safe online.
  • Transition to Distance Learning Creates Opportunities for Cyber Actors to Disrupt Instruction and Steal Data (FBI and CISA)
    • This FBI Public Service Announcement (PSA) was written with contributions from CISA and raises awareness for parents and caregivers of school-age children about potential disruptions to schools and compromises of private information, as cyber actors exploit remote learning vulnerabilities. The PSA discusses threats from video conference disruptions, social engineering, and phishing, and it provides recommendations and best practices on issues, including at-home cybersecurity and distance learning.
  • Online Privacy Tip Sheet
    • Tip sheet providing helpful information about sharing personal information online to enable you to reduce the risk of becoming a cybercrime victim.
  • 5 Ways to Be Cyber Secure at Work
    • From the top leadership to the newest employee, cybersecurity requires the vigilance of everyone to keep data, customers, and capital safe and secure. This tip sheet provides simple, easy to accomplish steps to allow organizations to connect with confidence and support a culture of cybersecurity among all employees.
  • Identity Theft and Internet Scams
    • Tips on avoiding the latest internet scams whether you are at home, at school, at work, or on the go.
  • Phishing
    • Learn more about how phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to infect your machine with malware and viruses in order to collect personal and financial information.
  • Malware Tip Card
    • Stop.Think.Connect. resource providing an easy-to-understand backgrounder on all things related to malicious software, or malware. Learn to protect yourself from malware, which can compromise the integrity of your computer or mobile device.

Victims of ransomware should report it immediately to CISA at www.us-cert.gov/report, a local FBI Field Office, or Secret Service Field Office.