PowerSchool says hacker deleted student, teacher records obtained in breach
An education technology company says information has been deleted after North Carolina student and teacher records were compromised in a hack.
We reported earlier this year when PowerSchool was breached on Dec. 19. Hackers took information like addresses, Social Security numbers, and contact information.
The company now reports that the data was deleted, after the alleged hacker said so. That's according to WRAL in Raleigh.
WRAL reports that PowerSchool paid a ransom and then watched a video of the hacker deleting data.
The breach affected school districts across the Carolinas, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
PowerSchool is offering two years of free identity protection and credit monitoring to those affected.
(VIDEO >> 'It's scary': Scammers show up in person after saying victims' accounts were hacked)
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News24
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The combination of desperation and trust in anything that looks official makes this a fertile ground for exploitation via disinformation. These false reports don't just casually mislead - comments beneath even palpably false news items and videos indicate the confusion and desperation many experience about this topic. This fake news also distracts Sassa, which is already stretched in the payment grants, by forcing them to correct disinformation. To stay safe, advise family members of the following: Check only official Sassa channels: Information is reliably published on and Sassa's verified X and Facebook pages. Do not trust any information sent via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. Sassa does not communicate important information via forwarded messages. Never enter personal information into a form on a website claiming to offer Sassa job opportunities. Ignore YouTube channels with videos claiming to be the Department of Social Development or Sassa. 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