pellcityschools.net Listed by safepay Ransomware Group: Ransomware Claim — What’s Alleged & What To Do

On December 10, 2025, the ransomware group SafePay listed pellcityschools.net on its leak site, claiming to have obtained internal files from the Pell City Schools district in Alabama. The number of individuals affected remains unknown, and no confirmation of the listing or details on the volume of material have been made public by the district. The practical implications center on records held by a public school system that serves children and families. Any exposure of internal files could involve information used in daily operations, though the precise contents and reach of the claimed exfiltration are not yet verified.

Inside the incident

The only confirmed public information is the listing itself, reported on December 10, 2025. The group states that internal files were taken during a ransomware operation. No timeline for the underlying intrusion, no count of files or records, and no description of encryption or other operational effects have been disclosed. The district has not issued a public statement confirming or denying the claims.

The group behind it: safepay

SafePay is a ransomware operation that follows the common double-extortion model: data is copied before encryption, and the group then pressures the target by threatening to publish the material. The group maintains a leak site where it lists organizations it claims to have compromised. Such listings are presented by the actors as evidence of access; independent verification of each entry is not automatic and often requires confirmation from the listed organization or law-enforcement findings.

Who is pellcityschools.net?

Pell City Schools is a public K-12 school district serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in Pell City, Alabama. Like other districts of its kind, it maintains records on enrollment, attendance, staff, and routine administrative functions. These systems routinely process information about minors and their families, which increases the sensitivity of any operational data that may be involved.

What data was at risk

The listing refers to “internal files exfiltrated in ransomware attack.” No further breakdown of file categories, record counts, or specific data fields has been released. School districts typically hold student directories, personnel files, financial records, and communications; however, whether any of these categories are present in the claimed exfiltration remains unconfirmed.

What's at stake

For individuals, the main concern is the potential misuse of whatever internal material was taken, particularly if it contains identifying details or contact information. For the district, the incident adds administrative, legal, and remediation tasks at a time when resources are already allocated to education. The absence of Reported Details means the scope of any follow-on effects cannot yet be measured.

Were you affected?

Begin by monitoring official communications from Pell City Schools for any notices or instructions. Individuals can also check whether their email address appears in known breach datasets through a free exposure scan offered by services that aggregate public breach records. If personal information is later confirmed as exposed, standard steps include reviewing account statements, enabling multi-factor authentication, and considering credit monitoring where appropriate.

AICompiled with AI assistance from public sources and published under our editorial standards.