Ransomware

The town’s municipal computer network is back up and running after a cyberattack one week ago that has been linked to Russian criminals and a global ransomware group, the town manager said Tuesday.

Recent high-profile cyber attacks against prominent U.S. companies have packed a charge behind efforts to craft more meaningful federal cyber policy. Experts, however, say this is easier said than done.

Hackers working for profit and espionage have long threatened American information systems. But in the last six months, they’ve targeted companies running operational networks with greater persistence.

After the recent ransomware attacks against Colonial Pipeline, JBS and others, there are new calls for the U.S. to hack back against cyber criminals and hold nation-states responsible. So what now?   

Authorities in the United States are having trouble stopping the Russia-based hackers responsible for some of the recent ransomware attacks. The Kremlin has done little to stop the activity for its own political gain.

A ransomware incident from November 2020 canceled two days of online classes, delayed a major payroll project, took down an employee timekeeping program, and may wind up costing the district over $8 million in the end.

On May 28, hackers targeted St. Clair County, Ill., disabling many digital services. While the county has since restored 90 percent of the services, it hasn't commented on the source of the attack.

After a string of high-profile cyber attacks against U.S. companies, lawmakers argue that companies should more openly share information with government agencies when they pay a ransom demand.

Hackers gained entry into the networks of Colonial Pipeline Co. on April 29 through a virtual private network account, which allowed employees to remotely access the company’s computer network.

Some experts place at least partial blame on COVID-19 for the recent onslaught of cyber attacks on public and private entities. Between May 2020 and May 2021, the FBI saw complaints about cyber crime jump by 1 million.

The police force of Azusa, Calif., recently experienced a ransomware attack, an event hidden from the public for months. A new investigation shows the agency also remained silent about an attack that occurred in 2018.

Cybersecurity leaders debated choosing the right security framework, using AI to get ahead of threats and making developers the stars of cloud-based defenses during a recent panel discussion.

School districts continue to get hit by ransomware attacks. But it’s not just IT’s job to keep networks and data secure.

Mobile County, Ala., shut down its IT systems for three days after a malware infection last week. The county hasn't revealed which system components were affected. The federal government is looking into the attack.

The tech giant has awarded money to six school districts who will work with IBM Service Corps teams on training, assessments and protocols to protect against ransomware after a banner year for cyber attacks in 2020.

Late this winter, an international hacking syndicate suspected of conducting ransomware attacks around the globe turned its attention to the police department in the San Gabriel Valley city of Azusa, Calif.

The Russia-backed hackers behind the massive SolarWinds cyberattack earlier this year are increasing their attacks against the U.S. government, according to analysis by software giant Microsoft.