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Bristol Schools Cyber Attack Exposes 320,000 Files on Dark Web

Bristol Schools Cyber Attack Exposes 320,000 Files on Dark Web

First seen 4 Nov 2026, 09:42 UTC • •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •November 4, 2026 at 09:43 UTC
  • •Over 320,000 files stolen from Bristol schools and published on the dark web.
  • •The attack targeted 39 schools using the Trading with Schools platform.
  • •The breach has severely disrupted school operations and increased teacher workloads.

A cyber attack on Bristol City Council's Trading with Schools platform led to the theft of over 320,000 files from 39 schools, with the data published on the dark web. The attack occurred on September 21, 2026, and the council was informed four days later. The affected schools rely on the platform for essential functions, including lesson planning and payroll. The council's Director of Education, Vik Verma, stated that they are working to assess the nature of the compromised data. The breach has disrupted school operations, leaving many unable to use phones and increasing teachers' workloads. Cybersecurity expert Dr. John Curry noted that such data is often sold or used for blackmail. The investigation is ongoing, with updates promised to families in the affected schools.

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Timeline

2026-09-21
Cyber attack on Trading with Schools platform
Malicious software infiltrated the platform, leading to data theft from 39 schools.
Bbc
2026-09-25
System shut down
Bristol City Council shut down the Trading with Schools platform to contain the breach.
Bbc
2026-11-04
Data published on dark web
More than 320,000 stolen files were found published on the dark web, affecting the school community.
Bbc

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Common questions

What types of data were stolen?
The stolen data includes sensitive information such as lesson plans, payroll details, and educational psychology files.
How are the schools responding to the breach?
Headteachers have been informed and are providing guidance to families while the council assesses the situation.
What measures are being taken to secure the platform?
The council is investigating the breach and has shut down the platform to prevent further access.