SWANSEA — All public schools in Swansea will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 4, due to a ransomware attack, the district superintendent announced via Twitter on Tuesday evening.

The incident comes days after a cyberattack at Bristol Community College that is affecting its networks.

Superintendent of Swansea Schools John Robidoux wrote at 4 p.m. this afternoon that the district's network has been shut down and school canceled for tomorrow.

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"Principals will be sending one call and it the cancellation will be posted on news stations this evening," he wrote.

No further details about the attack have been provided.

The incident comes just over a week after Bristol Community College experienced a cyberattack that continues to affect its internet access and other systems.

In a Jan. 3 update, BCC officials called the incident a "criminal cyberattack to the college's network" that started with unauthorized access on Dec. 23.

The college noted that it currently "has no forensic evidence that this incident resulted in the unauthorized access to, or acquisition of, personal information," but added that this remains under investigation.

If personal information was compromised, the college wrote, "individuals will be contacted directly with guidance and next steps."

BCC campuses currently have no internet or Wifi, although classes are continuing as scheduled.

It is unclear whether the latest data breach at Swansea Public Schools has compromised any student or staff information.

Cybersecurity threats are increasing in the digital age.

Approximately 22 billion records have been exposed with more than 4,100 data breaches disclosed in 2022 alone, according to CShub.com.

New Bedford's police department was targeted with a ransomware attack in January last year, while the city itself was hit in 2019.

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