Botetourt County Public Schools (BCPS) confirmed in a May 29 communication to families that some of the data compromised during a recent cybersecurity attack has been discovered on the dark web – a part of the internet often used for illicit activity.
In a letter shared with families and the media, Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Russ stated that BCPS is working closely with local and state law enforcement to verify the scope of the breach and conduct a full investigation. The division’s cybersecurity experts are also analyzing the leaked material to determine whether students’ personal information is among the data exposed.
“This process will take several days,” Russ wrote, “and I will keep you posted on our findings.”
While it remains unclear what specific information may have been leaked, BCPS has pledged to notify any individuals affected and provide support, including credit monitoring services, if personal data is found to have been compromised.
The school system has not disclosed details about how the breach occurred or how many individuals may be impacted, but officials have emphasized a continued commitment to transparency as the investigation unfolds.
Updates will be provided to the community as more information becomes available.
For further information, community members are encouraged to visit the Botetourt County Public Schools website at www.bcps.k12.va.us.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
