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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County commissioners announced the recent incident, which prompted the local government to shutter its network, has been resolved, in part by making a payment. Officials continue to securely restore systems. -
The local government is working with state and federal agencies as it recovers from the data breach discovered in April. Officials have mailed notification letters to residents and will work to become more cyber resilient.
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The cybersecurity incident detected Wednesday prompted officials to shutter most county systems. The attack hit the local government’s network. Fire and emergency 911 resources were able to continue to operate.
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Cybercriminals, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated, could take advantage of natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes to wreak havoc on critical infrastructure, experts say.
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Corry Area School District in Pennsylvania will take months to investigate a ransomware incident last month that may have exposed private information from students and staff at the school before 2011.
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A new Cyber Training and Exercise Range at Texas A&M University, part of its Cyber Readiness Center, allows other government organizations to train their employees with cyber attack simulations and hands-on exercises.
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It’s often said that people are the problem in IT security, but ensuring staff are engaged with cyber protocol, having a strong plan in place, and coordinating efforts across state and local agencies can stop attacks.
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Microsoft suspects that Nobelium, the group of state-sponsored Russian cyber criminals responsible for the SolarWinds fiasco, is taking aim at suppliers and resellers of tech products, including cloud-based solutions.
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Educators are concerned about killware, the latest type of cyber attack, which can cause deaths by disabling life-and-death technological systems such as hospital networks or public utilities like water and power.
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Janesville School District in Wisconsin said no data was accessed or destroyed, but students, staff and families are without programs such as Infinite Campus, Classlink, web-based textbooks and other resources.
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The U.S. Treasury Department has estimated the first six months of 2021 saw a total of $590 million connected to ransomware. In 2020, the number for the entire year was only $410 million.
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The idea behind killware, a new type of cyber attack, is to disable or manipulate the electronic or computer equipment that humans depend on, resulting in potential harm or death to individuals.
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Following a ransomware attack March 12 that shut down systems and forced the cancellation of classes, Buffalo Public Schools is spending nearly $10 million on network security, fraud monitoring and other services.
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New legislation will direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to conduct a review of vulnerabilities in schools nationwide and give them information and resources to prevent cyber attacks.
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By almost any measure, the breadth, depth and impact of data breaches have dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a roundup of the numbers.
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Public- and private-sector speakers during the Massachusetts Municipal Cybersecurity Summit highlighted local agencies’ particular vulnerability to ransomware as well as key strategies and resources to help.
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An audit of IT security in K-12 schools by the Kansas Legislature revealed most respondents weren't following recommended best practices, and half of them reported funding as a barrier to doing so.
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Officials in Pottawatomie County, Kan., negotiated a much-reduced ransom with the criminals behind a cyber attack that took the county's computer systems offline for close to two weeks.
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The new Center for Internet Security (CIS) research measures its cybersecurity recommendations’ effectiveness at thwarting the common techniques used in attacks to guide organizations on maximizing cyber investments.
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What if paying a ransom was illegal? While opinions vary widely, some policymakers believe preventing ransomware victims from making payments would remove the incentive for the crime in the first place.
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The cyber landscape has evolved to an almost unrecognizable degree in the past twenty years. We look at recent history, analyze policy changes aimed at battling today’s threats and consider what the future may hold.
