More Northern Ireland Schools Hit by Cyber Attack Than First Thought

EA warns parents of a possible data breach in Northern Ireland schools after cyber attack targets the C2K network, affecting student access before exams.

By Content Team

Jun 28, 2026

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The Education Authority (EA) wrote to parents at 23 schools in Northern Ireland on 25 June, warning that their children's personal data may have been accessed in the cyber attack first flagged to schools on 2 April. Sixteen of those schools had received no previous notification.

The attack targeted the C2K network, which handles IT for all schools across Northern Ireland, locking students out of accounts and resources during the lead-up to exam season. A 16-year-old boy was arrested and released on bail.

The EA says it still cannot confirm what personal data may have been affected, and that forensic analysis is a lengthy process. It has commissioned an independent review, notified the Information Commissioner's Office, forced a full password reset across the network, and is assisting the PSNI's criminal investigation. It reports no evidence of further breaches since the attack was detected, and says more notifications will follow as findings are confirmed.

Source: BBC News

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