ACCORDING to the state Education Department’s chief privacy officer, statewide data incident reports rose 72% in 2025, increasing from 384 in 2024 to 662 in 2025. On Long Island, 44 data incidents were reported in 2025, up from 35 the year prior. The department’s report attributes 341 incidents in 2025 to human error, with about one-third—or 230 cases—involving unauthorized access or disclosure by a third‑party contractor.
External breaches or hacking accounted for 221 incidents, and phishing was cited in 32 reports, with two incidents blamed on ransomware and malware attacks. The findings were reported by Lorena Mongelli, drawing on figures provided by the state Education Department. Read more at Newsday.