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Authorities Probe Attack on Brunswick N.C., Schools Internet

Since January, Brunswick County schools have been dealing with Internet connection issues affecting the system's network.

(Tribune News Service) -- Brunswick County, N.C., school officials said after months of frustration dealing with extremely slow internet connection, "Enough is enough."

Since January, Brunswick County schools have been dealing with Internet connection issues affecting the system's network. A news release said the disruptions are being caused by an outside source.

According to the release, while issues were sporadic at first, over the past few weeks, they have escalated resulting in significant interruptions to the system's Internet connectivity.

And the school system said it is being specifically targeted, prompting Brunswick County officials to reach out to law enforcement for assistance.

School officials consulted with Detective Ed Carter of the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office earlier this week, and a preliminary investigation revealed the individual or individuals initiating the distributed denial-of-service have at some point been an authenticated user and signed into the Brunswick County Schools' network.

While he could not comment on an ongoing investigation, Carter said that through initial findings, it appears that whoever is causing the problems is someone who is either logged into the school system's network or has accessed the computer network internally.

This has led investigators to believe the person responsible is likely a current or former student or staff member.

Carter said every electronic transaction a person makes can be followed and that is how investigators will find those responsible.

"Everything you do with a computer leaves a footprint," he said. "That's the footprint we look for in Internet crimes."

According to the release, these interruptions have caused a loss of instructional time, decreased productivity and have created an inability to execute required online state assessments.

Jessica Swencki, Brunswick County Schools spokeswoman, said students complete benchmark assessments every nine weeks, and teachers use that information to differentiate instruction in their classrooms.

She said she has seen students waiting almost three hours to submit their benchmarks do to Internet connectivity issues.

The slowdown has also effected teachers' ability to use technology in their daily lesson plans.

"Technology is highly engaging for our students, so when teachers have to back off an engaging lesson that students were looking forward to, it's not only frustrating for teachers but for our students as well," she said.

Swencki reiterated, though, that while the school system is experiencing these connectivity issues, no information on its system has been compromised.

Carter said he hopes to have the investigation wrapped up in a few days.

©2015 the Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC