Cyberattack Shuts Down Northwest Arkansas Community College Network Amid Ransomware Demands
Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) in Bentonville, Arkansas, has shut down its network following a cyberattack detected on the morning of July 30, 2024. According to reports, the attack involved ransomware demands, with hackers allegedly sending a typed ransom note to all campus printers, threatening to post compromised data to darknet sites unless a ransom is paid. In response, the college's IT team immediately disabled the network to prevent further damage. NWACC is working closely with a cybersecurity team to assess the extent of the threat. The network remains down, and the college has assured students, faculty, and staff that their protection is the priority. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.