Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware in which hackers access files and encrypt them, demanding payment to restore access. Coverage includes ransomware attacks on cities, states, schools and public utilities, as well as legislative efforts to curb the threat and set policy on how to respond.
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A school district in Pennsylvania canceled classes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week while it investigates and isolates a ransomware virus, which did not appear to have come from a local source.
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The Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority has said it found an intrusion Nov. 21 and “immediately activated” defensive controls. The organization was able to interrupt the incursion underway.
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Public- and private-sector security leaders examined trends in cyber threats at the recent California Cybersecurity Education Summit. During an attack, one said, responding quickly is still very important.
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All Clay County Courthouse offices and the Clay County Health Department are closed as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, and they will remain closed Wednesday as officials evaluate the developing situation there.
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This new cyber attack has disrupted the state’s ability to issue death and birth certificates, and the breach might be putting sensitive patient data at risk.
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Services affected in the incident, detected June 19, have been restored, and the incident did not “materially” affect the city’s service provision, according to a statement. It’s unclear how far the attack went before it was detected.
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A data breach in June by the Akira Ransomware Group exposed files containing personal identifiable information. Officials don't know if the attackers copied those files, but they expect the district to recover by Aug. 1.
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Every one of these attacks is an outrage, disrupting commerce, threatening the prospects of otherwise healthy organizations and requiring lavish investments to harden systems against hacking.
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Four days after a ransomware attack crippled its systems, the California-based Patelco Credit Union remained unable to tell its members when banking operations would return to normal.
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Nearly three months after a ransomware attack disrupted phone lines, computer services and Wi-Fi across Solano County's public libraries, systems are still down with no recovery in sight.
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The city has cyber protection in its insurance, but is seeking to expand its coverage. Its finance and IT directors made the request to the city’s finance panel last week. The request heads to the City Council Tuesday.
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County officials are considering software in the cloud for the 911 central dispatch software service that was affected in the June 12 ransomware attack. Used to reach law enforcement and first responders, that system remains offline.
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A ransomware attack that has impacted the Seattle Public Library and its 27 branches continues to be felt nearly a month after its discovery May 25. E-book access has been restored, but computer networks remain down.
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After last week's ransomware attack shut down the network for Grand Traverse County and Traverse City operations, staff are continuing to implement "creative workarounds" to get government work done.
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City officials have not estimated how long the closure could drag on, but recovery efforts have taken weeks, even months, in other U.S. cities that have fallen victim to similar attacks.
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A spokeswoman for Mayor Justin Bibb said the breach has been “contained” but couldn’t say whether the city has agreed to, or will consider, paying the ransom. The city is working with the Ohio National Guard and the FBI to investigate.
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Roughly a day after a ransomware attack hit Grand Traverse County systems, essential services were fully operational, city and county officials said. County government phone systems, however, were among those still not working normally.
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The nationwide health system said Wednesday that files taken from its system during a breach in May likely contained personal information. The attack’s discovery impacted appointments, surgeries and ambulances.
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Shuttered Monday and Tuesday while officials probed what had first been described as a “cyber incident,” the Ohio city hall was poised for a restart Wednesday. The threat remains under investigation.
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Most of the Kansas city’s court system is back online, as is public Wi-Fi at libraries; and residents can once again pay water bills online. Other services and systems are expected to come back online soon.
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The company, which operates hospitals, pharmacies and health-care facilities nationwide, expects to restore electronic health records by June 14, following a ransomware attack in early May. Restoration of other systems is still ongoing.