Fayette County schools improve computer security

Computer security is being updated at Fayette County’s public schools.

Jim Farmer, the system’s chief technology officer, reported to the Board of Education on April 9 that software to thwart malware, ransomware and viruses has already been installed on approximately 9,000 of 15,000 servers, desktops and laptops that use Windows. Farmer said the new software found “tens of thousands” of viruses and malware in the system that hadn’t been activated, and most likely spread through phishing emails.

He said older computers are more vulnerable to breaches, but that the new security measures both stop viruses and also “clean” the computer systems to improve their function.