Cole-Hamilton comments on Edinburgh cyberattack

Responding to the reported cyberattack on Edinburgh Council’s education department, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"This is a significant disruption for pupils and teachers. I'm glad that council has swung into action and I hope that disruption can be kept to a minimum but at the height of exam season it’s going to be a real challenge for pupils if they are only allowed a two hour window to reset their passwords.

“We know from previous cyberattacks on SEPA and NHS Dumfries & Galloway that these attacks can be complex, expensive and the full impact not truly understood for a considerable period of time.

"As more of our lives move online, there are also going to be an increasing number of malicious actors out there trying to cause chaos or make a profit.

"The Scottish Government must ensure that local authorities, health boards and public bodies have the support they need to toughen up their digital infrastructure and avoid disruption to people's lives."