| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident of a cyber attack using ransomware to encrypt files at a school has happened before at other organizations or within the same organization. The article mentions that schools and public institutions, such as hospitals, have become regular victims of ransomware attacks because hackers believe they are less likely to have good cyber practices [82465]. This indicates that similar incidents have occurred before in educational institutions like schools.
(b) The article also highlights that there has been a "significant increase" in cyber attacks on academy trusts, urging school leaders to take action [82465]. Additionally, the managing director of technology specialists in education mentioned that 20% of schools reported being victims of cyber attacks, and many incidents are under-reported [82465]. This suggests that similar incidents have occurred at multiple organizations in the education sector. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident at Sir John Colfox Academy in Bridport, Dorset, where GCSE coursework was lost due to a cyber attack can be attributed to the design phase. The incident occurred when a member of staff mistakenly opened an email containing a virus, which then infected the computer network and encrypted files, leading to the loss of students' coursework [82465].
(b) The software failure incident can also be linked to the operation phase. This is evident from the fact that the attack was successful due to the operation or misuse of the system, where a staff member unknowingly opened the malicious email, allowing the ransomware to infiltrate the network and cause the loss of data [82465]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) The software failure incident at Sir John Colfox Academy was within the system. The failure occurred when a member of staff mistakenly opened an email containing a virus, which then infected the computer network and encrypted files, leading to the loss of students' GCSE coursework [82465]. The incident was a result of internal factors within the school's system, such as the lack of proper cybersecurity measures and the vulnerability to phishing attacks. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident at Sir John Colfox Academy was caused by a cyber attack using ransomware. Hackers encrypted files on the school's computer network after a staff member mistakenly opened an email containing a virus. This non-human action of malware infecting the system led to the loss of students' GCSE coursework [82465].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
The human action that contributed to the software failure incident was the staff member's mistake of opening an email containing the virus. This action introduced the ransomware into the school's network, leading to the encryption of files and the loss of coursework [82465]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident at Sir John Colfox Academy was not due to hardware issues but rather originated from a member of staff mistakenly opening an email containing a virus, leading to the encryption of files through ransomware [82465]. This incident highlights the importance of cybersecurity measures and user awareness to prevent such attacks.
(b) The software failure incident at the academy was primarily caused by the ransomware attack initiated through the email containing malicious software. This incident demonstrates the impact of software-related vulnerabilities and the need for robust cybersecurity practices to protect against such attacks [82465]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident at Sir John Colfox Academy was malicious in nature. Hackers used ransomware to encrypt files at the school, causing the loss of some students' GCSE coursework. The attack was initiated when a member of staff mistakenly opened an email containing a virus, which then infected the computer network [82465]. The incident involved malicious intent to harm the system and extort ransom from the school. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
(a) poor_decisions: The software failure incident at Sir John Colfox Academy was a result of poor decisions, specifically a member of staff mistakenly opening an email containing a virus, which led to the encryption of files and the loss of students' GCSE coursework [82465]. Additionally, the incident highlights the lack of good cyber-practices in schools and the importance of taking preventative measures such as backing up data, keeping anti-virus software up to date, and educating users about cybersecurity risks [82465]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident at Sir John Colfox Academy was due to development incompetence as a member of staff mistakenly opened an email containing a virus, leading to the encryption of files and loss of students' GCSE coursework [82465].
(b) The software failure incident was accidental as the email containing the virus was opened accidentally by a staff member, triggering the ransomware attack that resulted in the loss of coursework [82465]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident at Sir John Colfox Academy in Bridport, Dorset, where GCSE coursework was lost due to a cyber attack involving ransomware can be categorized as a temporary failure. The incident was caused by a member of staff mistakenly opening an email containing a virus, leading to the encryption of files on the school's system [82465]. The school mentioned that specialists were working to rectify the issue, indicating efforts to address and potentially recover from the temporary failure. Additionally, the delay in Year 9 and 10 reports by at least a week suggests a temporary impact of the incident on the school's operations [82465]. |
| Behaviour |
other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article is not described as a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions [82465].
(b) omission: The software failure incident in the article is not described as an omission where the system omits to perform its intended functions at an instance(s) [82465].
(c) timing: The software failure incident in the article is not described as a timing issue where the system performs its intended functions correctly, but too late or too early [82465].
(d) value: The software failure incident in the article is not described as a value issue where the system performs its intended functions incorrectly [82465].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident in the article is not described as a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions [82465].
(f) other: The software failure incident in the article is described as a ransomware attack where hackers encrypted files at a school, causing it to lose some students' GCSE coursework. This incident involves malicious software being installed on a victim's computer, encrypting all files, and demanding a ransom for data recovery [82465]. |