Speaking for an organization with firsthand knowledge about cybercrime, we can say the attack at the Mars Area School District isn’t unusual or unexpected.

The “threat actors” — as the bad guys are referred to by the people trying to counter them — are somehow able to stay one step ahead of the FBI and also the companies writing the software trying to block the criminals.

Most often, we hear that the threat actors are working out of countries that don’t seem to care how much havoc computer bandits are causing worldwide. They’re based out of locations in places such as Russia, China and Romania. If only Russia would take it as seriously as they do the threat of medical marijuana, the world would be so much safer.

Before we all overreact to the threat actors’ claims that they posted massive amounts of personal information on the dark web, let us assure you they lie and exaggerate as much as politicians.

Another Western Pennsylvania newspaper was attacked a few weeks ago and, while causing an inconvenience by affecting some of the newspaper’s equipment, the truth was the threat actors had basically stolen information that was years old and did not include anything that was damaging to the company or its customers if it had been released.

Don’t start thinking this isn’t a real threat, because it could be, but most likely they are making much bigger claims than they probably are able to do.

The biggest point to make is that the Mars school district, Butler County Community College and others who have been hacked are not always at fault. The best fighters against cybercrime concede they are always a step or two behind the threat actors.

Software companies very routinely add new protections to the firewalls in protecting your valued information. That is why even though the previously mentioned business was breached, there was very little information stolen that was truly critical or damaging to anyone.

The one thing questionable about the handling of the Mars situation would be the free publicity given to the threat actors by releasing their cute little name. They will likely be more thrilled with gaining notoriety than successfully stealing any amount of money from the school district.

Our advice is simple. Keep your security software up to date and be as quiet about your experience as you can be, rather than adding to the egos of the thieves and encouraging them to improve the bad acts they strive to perform from the home-based garage/office or basement.

Hey, and remember to vote on Nov. 8. If you don’t vote, don’t complain.

— RV