- Fettes School in Edinburgh, often called the ‘Eton of the North’, was hacked in Might by criminals in a bid to steal from mother and father
- Police and IT consultants referred to as in after a ‘handful’ of households have been conned out of considerable sums
- Unique £40,000-a-year college was attended by former Prime Minister Tony Blair and actress Tilda Swinton
Certainly one of Britain’s most unique boarding faculties has been focused by hackers within the newest cyber assault to hit Scotland.
Fettes School, which was attended by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, has confirmed that its IT methods have been hacked in Might when criminals ‘sought to defraud’ a few of its households.
Mother and father pay greater than £40,000 a yr for his or her youngsters to attend the Edinburgh college and it’s understood a ‘handful’ of households of potential college students have been conned out of ‘giant sums’ of cash when their particulars have been illegally obtained by the hackers.
The varsity wouldn’t go into particulars of the incident however mentioned it was taking the matter ‘very severely’ and a ‘full investigation’ has been launched.
Police Scotland final night time mentioned it was investigating a cyber assault on the college which occurred on Might 29.
Fettes School in Edinburgh was focused by cyber criminals who ‘illegally obtained’ particulars of pupils’ households
A Fettes School spokesman mentioned: ‘Now we have been topic to a cyber-incident affecting a restricted a part of our IT system whereby criminals sought to defraud a few of our households. This occurred in Might, and we took speedy steps to resolve the state of affairs as quickly as we grew to become conscious of it and reported the matter to the suitable authorities.’
They added: ‘We suggested mother and father of our present and potential college students to be alert to any communication from Fettes that may appear uncommon, and to contact us straight if they’ve any considerations or queries.
‘Fettes is taking this incident very severely and a full investigation, with the help of exterior IT consultants, is underway.’
It’s the newest cyber assault to hit Scotland with NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Western Isles Council and the College of the West of Scotland College all focused up to now 12 months.
Hackers stole and printed greater than three terabytes of ‘employees and patient-identifiable’ information after hacking NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s IT system in February. This pressured the chief govt Julie White final month to put in writing to each family within the area to inform them to imagine they’d been focused.
Western Isles Council methods have been additionally introduced down by cyber criminals in November.
And final July, a ransom gang referred to as Rhysida demanded £450,000 value of bitcoin from the College of West of Scotland after stealing scholar Nationwide Insurance coverage numbers and employees financial institution particulars.
Automotive seller Arnold Clark and the Scottish Surroundings Safety Company (Sepa) have been additionally focused in related ‘ransomware’ assaults in recent times.
In 2022 Arnold Clark prospects had data together with addresses, passports and nationwide insurance coverage numbers leaked on the darkish internet by felony gang Play.
The varsity was the newest establishment to be hit by hackers, who’ve just lately focused councils, public our bodies and personal companies
Sepa was focused in December 2020, when it had greater than 4,000 digital recordsdata stolen after the same cyber assault that value it £5.5million.
Fettes School, typically considered the ‘Eton of the North’ has among the costliest charges – reaching greater than £15,000 a time period – within the nation.
Different well-known former pupils of Fettes School embrace Dr Unusual actress Tilda Swinton and former Rangers Soccer Membership proprietor David Murray.
The spectacular nineteenth century constructing set in 100 acres of floor can be thought to have offered inspiration for Hogwarts in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter world.
Police Scotland mentioned it was ‘conscious of a cyber assault at Fettes School in Edinburgh which occurred on Might 29, 2024’.
A spokesman added: ‘Enquiries are ongoing and officers are offering help to these affected.’
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