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.
-
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.
-
A cyber attack that struck the county April 28 impacted several systems around real estate, deeds, tax processing and land transactions. Several of these remain offline more than a month afterward.
-
Officials, who recently increased their cyber insurance coverage, have refused to pay a ransom. They are working to fully replace all network infrastructure, including desktops, laptops, servers and storage.
More Stories
-
Hackers who targeted the city of Dallas had access to the addresses, Social Security numbers and other personal information of nearly 300 more people than what had been previously disclosed to the public, officials now say.
-
The Scotland County Board of Commissioners is staying tightlipped about the details surrounding a Dec. 18 cyber incident that cybersecurity officials are still working to get under control.
-
The city of Huber Heights, Ohio, is still in a state of emergency nearly two months after a cyber attack took down multiple government systems and functions. All city services are functional, though additional work is still underway.
-
Artificial intelligence has created a new frontline in the perpetual war between white-hat and black-hat hackers. The technology has the potential to tip the scale for those able to harness its power.
-
The web portal that allows people to search for Kansas district court cases is back online for the first time since being knocked out by a cyber attack in October 2023.
-
After shutting off its network earlier this month, a public school district in New Hampshire has regained many of its functions, inspected its devices and investigated the incident with its cyber insurance provider.
-
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that it has seized several websites operated by the group BlackCat. The group has targeted schools, health care, local governments and other victims across the U.S.
-
Teachers have gone back to pen and paper, and bus drivers back to navigating the old fashioned way, at a south metro Atlanta school system after a ransomware attack forced the district to restrict network access.
-
The Chelan and Douglas County public utility districts are locking in specific security measures as cybersecurity breaches continue to target critical infrastructure across the country and state.
-
A K-12 district in Northern Kentucky this week announced that a ransomware attack had removed some files from their servers without authorization, and they may be published online. Details are under investigation.
-
The effects of a November ransomware attack against Oceanside, Calif.’s Tri-City Medical Center were contained more than two weeks ago, but now those behind the cyber incident are publishing stolen data on the dark web.
-
Three weeks after a cyber attack took down multiple city of Huber Heights, Ohio, government systems and functions, officials have still not determined what, if any, resident personal data has been released by the hackers.
-
By "shifting left," or moving testing as early in the app development process as possible, state and local cybersecurity teams can identify vulnerabilities and fix them before they become problems.
-
As ransomware attacks have continued to hit state and local organizations — and tech advancements like generative AI have continued apace — cyber experts predict evolving malicious tactics for 2024.
-
Long Beach Utilities Department CIO Paula Crowell was set to take over as Santa Monica’s CIO Dec. 18, but the far-reaching impacts of a November cyber attack prompted her to reconsider the transition.
-
Credit union solutions provider Ongoing Operations experienced a cyber incident in late November. About 60 credit unions are believed to be suffering a level of disruption as a result.
-
Recent cyber attacks against water infrastructure in western parts of the state have officials assessing risk exposure. In Delaware County, water companies say they’ve taken proactive steps to defend their systems.
-
The North Texas Municipal Water District, which supplies water to sprawling Collin County suburbs, is the latest target of a ransomware attack. The breach has not disrupted service to the more than 2 million customers in the area.