Blacon High School in Chester, UK, recently became the latest victim of a ransomware attack…
Hackers infiltrated their systems, locked critical files, and brought the school to a standstill. Students were sent home, teachers scrambled to adapt lessons to remote platforms, and IT teams worked tirelessly to restore control.
If this feels close to home, that’s because it is. Schools, small businesses, and community organisations are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals. Why? Because they’re often seen as “easy pickings”—underfunded, understaffed, and underprepared to fend off these increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Here’s the kicker: it’s not just schools. Fylde Coast Academy Trust recently faced a £1.2 million ransom demand from attackers who threatened to release personal data unless they paid up. And they’re not alone—this is a trend spreading across sectors.
But it doesn’t have to be this way – how to protect against ransomware…
The Real Cost of Doing Nothing
It’s easy to think, “This won’t happen to us.” But here’s the truth: that’s exactly what hackers are counting on.
Every business, no matter its size, has something worth stealing—customer data, financial records, even just access to your systems. Ransomware isn’t just a tech problem; it’s a business problem.
Think about the potential fallout:
– Lost revenue during downtime.
– Damaged reputation when customers lose trust.
– Sky-high recovery costs—not just the ransom, but also legal fees, IT repairs, and compliance penalties.
Blacon High School had Google Classroom as a backup. Many organisations aren’t so lucky. When systems go down, everything grinds to a halt. And if your recovery plan involves “hoping it doesn’t happen,” you’re playing a dangerous game.
How Hackers Get Into Your System
Understanding how attacks happen is half the battle. Cybercriminals aren’t breaking into your systems with brute force anymore—they’re using psychological precision and subtlety to get what they want.
Here’s how they do it:
1. Phishing Emails: A seemingly innocent email, maybe pretending to be from your bank or a trusted partner, tricks someone into clicking a malicious link.
2. Exploiting Weak Passwords: Too many people are still using “password123.” Hackers know this and use automated tools to guess weak credentials.
3. Outdated Software: Unpatched systems are an open invitation for attackers to exploit known vulnerabilities.
Three Steps to Stay Safe
This might sound overwhelming, but the good news is that protecting yourself doesn’t require a degree in cybersecurity. It just requires focus, a plan, and some action.
Spot the Weak Points
Do you know where your vulnerabilities are? Start with a cybersecurity audit. Look for things like outdated software, unsecured devices, or employees who haven’t been trained on the latest scams. Awareness is your first line of defence.
Train Your Team
Most breaches happen because someone inside the organisation makes a mistake—clicking a phishing link, sharing their password, or falling for a social engineering scam. Training isn’t just for IT; it’s for everyone. Teach your team what to look out for and how to respond if something seems suspicious.
Build a Resilient Plan
Bad things happen. The question is: how fast can you recover? A solid response plan can mean the difference between minor downtime and catastrophic failure. Back up your data regularly, know who to call in an emergency, and make sure everyone knows their role.
Why You Can’t Ignore This
A report from the UK Home Office revealed something troubling: public confidence in cybersecurity is low, and attitudes towards fraud are shifting in the wrong direction. More people are turning a blind eye to dishonest behaviour, and fewer believe cybercrime is preventable.
This mindset is dangerous—not just for individuals, but for entire organisations. The belief that “there’s nothing we can do” leads to inaction, which is exactly what hackers want.
But here’s the thing: you can do something. And you should.
Your Next Move
Here at ITogether, we specialise in protecting schools from ransomware attacks as well as helping organisations of all sizes strengthen their cyber defences.
If you’re interested in learning how to protect against ransomware, or prevent phishing attacks in your organisation, we’ve got you covered.
Start with our free Cybersecurity Health Check here
References
1. “Blacon High School ransomware attack”, The Register, 2025
2. “Public attitudes to cyber crime and fraud”, UK Government, 2025
3. “Fylde Coast Academy Trust ransom demand”, Lancashire Post, 2024
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