News

More Than 33,000 Mainers Affected by School Cyber Attack

More Than 33,000 Mainers Affected by School Cyber Attack

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


Education software provider PowerSchool says more than 33,000 Mainers have been affected by a data breach of its system.

The global K-12 software company suffered a cybersecurity breach last month and later announced it had discovered the attack.

Numerous school districts in Maine notified families of the breach, including districts in Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Kennebunk, and Lewiston.

PowerSchool says 33,488 Maine residents were affected by the breach, which equals about 20 percent of the roughly 170,000 students enrolled in Maine schools.

The company filed a submission with the Maine Attorney General’s Office Monday, confirming the breach.

The submission included a letter with instructions for parents and guardians to try to protect their their children after the cyber attack.

The company admitted that sensitive information could have been accessed, including medical information and social security numbers.

“Due to differences in customer requirements, the types of information involved
in this incident included one or more of the following, which varied by person: name, contact information, date of birth, Social Security Number, limited medical alert information, and other related information,” the statement said.

It company’s letter also offers options for affected individuals to enroll in complimentary credit monitoring or identity protection for two years.

“PowerSchool is offering two years of complimentary identity protection services to students and educators whose information was involved.”

Latest Headlines

2 hours ago in Lifestyle

Backyard vegetable gardens are healthy for people and the planet. Here’s how to start yours

If you want healthy food, experts say to eat what's local, organic and in-season. Those foods benefit the planet too, because they are less taxing on the soil and they don't travel as far. It doesn't get more local, organic and in-season than a backyard vegetable garden.

2 hours ago in Olympics, Sports, Trending

Winter Olympics 2026 guide: All you need to know about the Milan Cortina Games

The start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy is days away. The torch relay is nearly complete and some of the top athletes are already making headlines. There are 16 sports in all, including some never seen before, and 116 gold medals are waiting to be awarded.

2 hours ago in Entertainment

Penny the Doberman pinscher wins the 150th Westminster dog show

A Doberman pinscher named Penny won best in show Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, netting U.S. show dogs' most coveted prize — and giving veteran handler Andy Linton another win after nearly four decades.

2 hours ago in Entertainment

Super Bowl LX ads feature AI, weight-loss drugs and celebs from George Clooney to Kendall Jenner

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, the battle off the field for advertisers to win over 120 million-plus viewers will be just as heated as the rivalry between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

19 hours ago in Lifestyle, Trending

With caviar McNuggets and heart-shaped pizza, fast food chains hope to win Valentine’s diners

It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as TikTok: chicken nuggets lovingly topped with a dab of caviar. McDonald's is embracing the trend this Valentine's Day with a limited-time McNugget Caviar kit. The free kit, which will be available on McNuggetCaviar.com on Feb. 10, pairs a one-ounce tin of Paramount's Siberian sturgeon caviar with a $25 McDonald's gift card to buy McNuggets.