Canadian Man Accused of Targeting Schools with Malware: What Parents Should Know

A man from Saskatoon, Canada is facing extradition to the United States over allegations that he installed malware on computer systems at American educational institutions. According to court documents, Ryan James Roach allegedly conspired to steal login credentials and use school computer systems to mine cryptocurrency. He has been ordered into custody while awaiting the extradiction process. This case affects families whose children attend American schools that may have been targeted. If malware was installed on school systems, student and parent login credentials could have been stolen.

This means passwords used to access grades, attendance records, or parent portals may have been compromised. Additionally, if school computers were slowed down or acting strangely, it may have been because they were secretly being used to mine cryptocurrency.

Here is what you should do right now. First, contact your child's school and ask if they were affected by any cyberattacks or unusual computer activity. Second, change the password for any school portals or educational websites you or your child use. Choose a strong, unique password that you do not use anywhere else. Third, enable two-factor authentication on any school accounts that offer it. This adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password. Fourth, watch for suspicious emails claiming to be from your school asking you to click links or provide information. To stay protected long term, teach your children never to share login credentials with friends. Use a password manager to create and store unique passwords for every website. Review your school accounts regularly for any activity you do not recognize.

Remember that schools should never ask for passwords via email or text message.