School Management Software Reports Data Breach

Active Network, a company that provides software for K-12 schools and districts, reported a security breach last week.

According to a company notice, hackers gained unauthorized access to Blue Bear, a software platform that facilitates administration and management of school accounting, student fees, and online stores on behalf of educational institutions.

The hackers possibly accessed personal information of webstore users including names, credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates, security codes and Blue Bear account usernames and passwords between October 1, 2019 and November 13, 2019. The company says the security breach didn’t involve sensitive ID information like Social Security numbers, driver license number or similar government ID cards.

“As soon as we identified the suspicious activity, our counsel engaged a leading
cybersecurity firm to investigate the incident and took steps to enhance its monitoring tools and security controls,” Active Network said in the notice.

In addition, they are offering free identity monitoring services to customers and a reference guide for more information on how to monitor and protect personal information.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • URI Cuts Underwater Ribbon on New Ocean Robotics Laboratory

    The University of Rhode Island recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at its Narragansett Bay Campus, according to a news release. Two students used a remotely operated vehicle to cut an underwater ribbon in a 30-by-20-foot test tank.