Isle of Wight Schools Hit by Ransomware Attack, Disrupting IT Systems Six schools on the Isle of Wight Carisbrooke College, Island 6th Form, Medina College, Barton Primary, Hunnyhill Primary, and Lanesend Primary have been affected by a ransomware attack that encrypted their data and disrupted IT systems. The Isle of Wight Education Federation confirmed the incident occurred last week, stating it is working with police and the local council to manage the fallout. A federation spokesman acknowledged the "significant implications" of the attack and outlined plans to strengthen security measures moving forward. While efforts are underway to restore systems in time for the new academic year, the headteacher of one affected school attributed the disruption to a malware incident, which has hindered communications and operations. The attack comes amid broader cybersecurity concerns, including recent regulatory changes requiring greater transparency from organizations about breaches. Meanwhile, a new cybersecurity center in Guernsey has launched to bolster defenses against digital threats, reflecting growing regional efforts to combat cyber risks.