Department of Education: Hackers are now targeting elementary and high schools

Nobody is protected in the cyber attack, maybe not even elementary school kids.

Lately, a hacking team called "The Dark Overlord," famous for hacking Netflix, has been associated with a series of strikes on school districts in several distinct countries reports CNN. The Wall Street Journal reports that cyber-thieves have assaulted over three dozen colleges.

On October 16, the Department of Education issued a warning to K-12 teachers, pupils, administrators and students against the hazards of hackers such as The Dark Overlord, citing cases of cyber attacks from school districts in several unique nations.

"Schools have long been goals for cyber-thieves and offenders," writes the section. "We are writing to allow you to know of a brand new threat, in which the offenders are working to extort cash from school districts and other educational institutions around the danger of releasing sensitive information from student records."

1 such attack happened in Columbia Falls, Montana, in which administrators and students were sent threatening messages requiring $150,000 at bitcoin in exchange for not releasing stolen school documents. Columbia Falls Superintendent Steve Bradshaw informs CNN that pupils had received text messages referencing Sandy Hook Elementary that said things like, "splatter kids' blood from the halls."

The strikes against Columbia Falls pushed over 30 colleges to close down for 3 days while law authorities determined that the hackers were situated out of the United States. In accordance with The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Valley College paid hackers $28,000 at ransom.

The Department of Education's letter affirmed that risks such as these have now been detected multiple times, saying, "In some situations, that has included dangers of violence, shaming, or bullying the kids unless payment has been received."

Not one of the dangers have, thus far, led to real violence.

"These attacks have been actively researched by the FBI, and it's essential to be aware that none of these dangers of violence have thus far been judged to be plausible," clarifies the department.Officials think that hackers are attacking the most vulnerable college districts people who have "weak data protection, or famous vulnerabilities that allow the attackers to obtain access to sensitive information."

To be able to safeguard personal information which may be stolen and used for extortion, the Department of Education indicates that schools conduct safety audits and that they instruct staff and pupils on information security best practices.

Robert Herjavec, founder and CEO of cybersecurity company Herjavec Group, and a star of ABC's "Shark Tank," informs CNBC that the danger of cyber attacks shouldn't be underestimated.

"So long as there's a means for cyber criminals to have compensated, with limited threat, attacks will continue," he states.