Qilin Ransomware Attack Disrupts Bertie County Schools in North Carolina Amid Statewide Cyber Threats

Starting around April 8, 2025, Bertie County Schools in Windsor, North Carolina, began experiencing major disruptions to phone and internet services. The Qilin ransomware group later claimed responsibility for the attack, listing the district as a victim on their leak site on April 18. The school district itself has not officially confirmed the cyberattack or disclosed details to the public as of April 26. Communications across the district remain impaired, and investigations into the breach are ongoing.

The Qilin group alleges that they exfiltrated approximately 50GB of sensitive data from the district’s systems. Bertie County Schools, which serves approximately 1,900 students, has not publicly commented on the type of data involved. This incident occurs amid a broader wave of cyberattacks across North Carolina, including the indefinite closure of Pinehurst Radiology, disruptions to city services in Winston-Salem, and other major attacks affecting organizations such as Krispy Kreme and TRIUMPH Group facilities. The Bertie County breach underscores the increasing threat ransomware poses to public institutions across the state in 2025.