A cybercriminal group called Interlock over the weekend took credit for a March 2026 ransomware attack on Community College of Beaver County.
CCBC announced on March 9, 2026 that hackers encrypted data and demanded ransom payments to decrypt it. The attack disrupted access to grades, transcripts and financial info. The school closed the campus until the following Monday, and in-person classes didn’t fully resume until March 30.
Interlock claimed responsibility for the attack on its data leak website and said it stole 780 GB of data from CCBC. The ransomware gang says it stole “hundreds of records containing personal and confidential information, as well as financial documents, projects, and contracts, which were subsequently leaked to the public.”
CCBC has not acknowledged Interlock’s claim and Comparitech cannot independently verify it. We do not know what data was compromised, if CCBC paid a ransom, how much Interlock demanded, or how attackers breached CCBC’s network. Comparitech contacted CCBC for comment and will update this article if it replies.
“On March 9, 2026, Community College of Beaver County experienced a cybersecurity incident that involved the encryption of some of our data,” says an update on the school’s website.
“At this time, we are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the full scope of the incident, including what information may have been impacted.”
Who is Interlock?
Interlock is a ransomware gang that first started claiming attacks on its leak site in October 2024. Its malware both steals data and locks down computer systems. Interlock then demands a ransom to restore infected systems and delete stolen data.
Interlock has claimed credit for 98 ransomware attacks since it began, 47 of which were confirmed by the targeted organizations. Of those confirmed, 15 attacks hit schools, universities, and other educational institutions.
Ransomware attacks on US education
Comparitech researchers have logged seven confirmed ransomware attacks on US schools, colleges, and other educational institutions in 2026 to date. They include:
- Denmark School District (WI) reported a January 2026 data breach claimed by Inc
- Alcorn School District (MS) reported a March 2026 data breach claimed by LockBit
- Lehigh Carbon Community College (PA) reported a March 2026 data breach claimed by Medusa
- Monmouth University (NJ) reported a March 2026 data breach claimed by PEAR
- Alamo Heights Independent School District (TX) reported a March 2026 ransomware attack
Ransomware attacks on schools can both steal data and disrupt day-to-day operations such as taking attendance, submitting grades, phone and email communications, billing, payroll, and assignments. Schools that refuse to pay can face extended downtime, permanent data loss, and putting students and faculty at increased risk of fraud.
About Community College of Beaver County
Community College of Beaver County is a public community college in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. It enrolls more than 7,000 students per semester.
