Ransomware attack forces Brit high school to shut doors

A ransomware attack on Blacon High School in Chester on January 17 forced at least two days of closure, caused widespread IT and phone outages, and prompted the school to engage an independent cybersecurity firm; no attacker claim or confirmed data breach has been reported. The article links this incident to a recent string of public-sector ransomware attacks in the UK (including Gateshead Council and NHS-related incidents), highlights examples of stolen-data postings and ransom demands, and notes possible government measures such as a public-sector ransom payment ban and an IT overhaul.