Tag Archive for: snow

Are ransomware attacks the new snow days?

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Key points:

In early January, the Des Moines Public Schools, the largest school district in the state of Iowa, fell victim to a ransomware attack that forced the district to take its network offline and students to miss more instructional time.

In addition to the disruption to operations, the district discovered that the attackers compromised the personal data of nearly 7,000 individuals, putting them at increased risk of identity theft and other crimes.

This is just one attack among hundreds as ransomware gangs relentlessly target the education sector. Disruptive ransomware attacks against the education sector have become so commonplace that they are likely to cause more school closures than weather-related incidents.

In fact, the number of attacks against schools is so high that the month of June was on pace to go down in the record books for the highest volume of disclosed attacks against education organizations to date.

A problem with few solutions

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which oversees protecting government agencies and our nation’s critical infrastructure, recently issued an alert about the growing risk to the education sector from ransomware attacks.

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Here’s how much snow Pueblo may receive on New Year’s Day

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Pueblo could receive 1-to-2 inches of snow on New Year’s Day according to the National Weather Service Pueblo.

A storm system will move in late New Year’s Eve and snow will continue into New Year’s Day, according to meteorologist Cameron Simcoe.

“(The system is) just a big old wave in the jet stream… a big old trough,” he said. “It’s going to pass right over Colorado. It’s a strong dynamic system that will help a lot of bringing moisture to the area.”

Simcoe said the chances of snow are a little better than 30% and that Pueblo could see up to 2 inches of snow by the end of Jan 1.

More on Pueblo’s climate: Here’s what a light snowpack could mean for Pueblo County

The temperatures and wind chill will also be very cold on New Year’s Day, according to Simcoe. While the high on New Year’s Eve is expected to be around 54 degrees, as it cools the system will move in bringing rain then snow. Precipitation is predicted to begin falling between 11 a.m. Dec. 31 and 4 a.m. Jan. 1. The low on Dec. 31 is predicted to be 14.

On New Year’s Day, the high is expected to only reach 30 and the low is predicted to be 7. The wind chill, however, will likely make it feel colder, according to Simcoe.

“It will be even colder on Sunday morning,” he said.

After the snow and cold, Simcoe said temperatures will return to the high 40s and 50s.

“Sunday it’ll start warming up pretty quickly,” he said. “Then we’ll probably be at, if not average, above average (temperatures), probably again until the next system comes through probably midweek.”

Simcoe said it’s still too early to tell if the system that moves in next week will bring more moisture.

He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the system meant snow for higher elevations.

“It’s a bit too early to tell if there’s snow, but I will say the mountains (will get snow) probably because they always get something when some sort system comes through,” he said. “Other than that, it’s too unclear at this time. Unfortunately.”

Trending: City council accommodates requests for 3 Pueblo subdivisions

Luke Lyons is the news director of The Pueblo Chieftain. He can be reached via email at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo…

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The West Is About to Get Blasted With Snow

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A series of storms could make a dent in the snow drought that has gripped the West to start winter. While they won’t end the longer-term megadrought by any means, they at least should get ski lifts turning, provide some nourishment to parched soils, and up the odds of a White Christmas.

Winter storm watches and warnings stretch from Arizona to Minnesota as a powerful system is set to streak across the region. The snow began on Thursday and will intensify on Friday, fed by moisture from the Pacific and a dip in the jet stream that has sent storms screaming into the Pacific Northwest so far this winter.

In the mountains of Colorado, up to 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow could fall. Snow is also expected in Denver. The city broke an 87-year-old record for the latest first snowfall in November. Snow could also dust other locations currently lacking, including the mountains near Salt Lake City and the Sierra Nevada in California. Those locations will likely see lighter totals than Colorado, but any snow there is good snow.

The National Weather Service is warning of dangerous travel conditions, saying that once the storm hits the Plains driving “could be very difficult to impossible” due to snow cover. In parts of Colorado, the agency also issued avalanche warnings. “Heavy snow and strong winds will result in numerous natural avalanches on Thursday night,” forecasters wrote. “Very dangerous avalanche conditions continue into Friday with human-triggered avalanches very likely.”

Dangerous conditions aside, the storm will be a relief in terms of bringing needed moisture to the region. While the Pacific Northwest has received a fair share of precipitation since the wet season began last month, the rest of the West hasn’t been so lucky. Comparing this year to 2020 — which was a roughly average year for Colorado and some parts of the interior West — shows a huge early-season deficit. Satellite imagery shows mountain peaks with patchy coverage and valleys with at least a dusting usually on the ground are completely bare. Ski areas have been hit hard as well, only opening runs where snowmaking equipment is in place.

Sentinel-2 satellite images showing Taos Ski Valley in December 2020 (heavy snow cover) and December 2021 (largely bare). (Gif: Brian Kahn/Sentinel Hub)Sentinel-2 satellite images showing Taos Ski Valley…

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Internet security doesn’t take a snow day – Knoxville News Sentinel

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Knoxville News Sentinel

Internet security doesn't take a snow day
Knoxville News Sentinel
When Winter Storm Jonas blew through Tennessee in late January, computer malware and virus infections in Knoxville more than doubled, according to a report from Enigma Software Group, a Florida-based maker of personal computer security software.

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