Singtel Suffers Zero-Day Cyberattack, Damage Unknown – Threatpost
Singtel Suffers Zero-Day Cyberattack, Damage Unknown Threatpost
Tag Archive for: Cyberattack
3 months after cyberattack that threatened ‘public health crisis,’ Jersey City MUA computer systems still not fully restored
The recent cyberattack at the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority inflicted damage that lasted months and threatened to cause a “public health crisis,” the agency said.
Officials from Jersey City and the autonomous utilities agency have said little about the Sept. 30 ransomware attack, which MUA documents said blocked access to “vital” water and sewer information.
But the MUA spent nearly half a million dollars to address the attack, and the agency’s computer systems were still not fully functional even three months after the cyber incursion, an MUA resolution passed last month shows.
At a Dec. 17 meeting, the MUA Board of Commissioners voted to approve a new $391,000 emergency contract with cyber security firm Digital Team Six for “technical restoration services,” according to a resolution obtained through an Open Public Records request. The new contract was “necessary to avert a public health crisis,” the resolution said.
“Despite repeated efforts … problems continued to be encountered with restoring all of the JCMUA’s internet technology network to full operation,” the resolution states, adding that “it has become increasingly apparent that advanced technical assistance will be required.”
But the extent of the potential “public health crisis” is unclear. JCMUA Executive Director Jose Cunha could not be reached for comment and MUA Board of Commissioners Chair Maureen Hulings declined to comment. Digital Team Six staff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The contract comes on the heels of an $18,675 contract with a different information technology firm, as well as a $25,000 contract with Pennsylvania law firm Mullen Coughlin to investigate the incident — putting known expenditures related to the incident at $434,675. MUA officials expected at least $25,000 of that to be covered by insurance.
It’s also unclear exactly what the hacker or hackers wanted to target. However, the attack caused the agency to “lose access to vital information and documentation related to the provision of water and sewerage services to the citizens of the City of Jersey City,” an October resolution reads.
In ransomware attacks, hackers block…
Cities, county still reeling in wake of cyberattack
TEXARKANA, Texas — As multiple agencies in both Texarkanas and Bowie County remain crippled by a ransomware attack discovered more than a month ago, frustration at a lack of information and progress grows among officials and personnel.
The attack on Texarkana Water Utilities, which handles information technology services for both the cities of Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Arkansas, as well as Bowie County, Texas, was discovered Dec. 6. Agencies including the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office; Texarkana Texas Police Department; Texarkana Arkansas Police Department; Bowie County District Attorney’s Office; Bowie County District Clerk’s Office; Bowie County Clerk’s Office; Bowie County probation; Bowie County Justices of the Peace; and multiple other offices have been seriously impacted by the cyber attack.
“At this point I have no knowledge from the county judge’s office other than a short note about the ransomware,” Bowie County Justice of the Peace Nancy Talley said. “I’m in the dark like everyone else.”
Bowie County Judge Bobby Howell said a criminal investigation into the matter is ongoing and that the county has been advised to refrain from issuing public statements by a Pennsylvania law firm.
“Be patient. We will put some information out when the time is right,” Howell said.
Howell said the process of “rebuilding the network” is ongoing though he lamented one would need a “crystal ball” to know when digital processes and infrastructure would be restored and whether data has been irretrievably lost.
“It’s a complex organization,” Howell said.
Howell was reluctant in interviews this week to reveal the name of the law firm advising the county and has declined to provide the Gazette with a copy of the county’s relevant insurance policy. Shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday morning Howell texted contact information for the Mullen Coughlin firm of Devon, Pennsylvania, to Gazette staff. The firm’s website states it specializes in data privacy and incident response services.
A representative of Mullen Coughlin did not respond to a request for comment.
Bowie County Emergency Management Coordinator Lance Hall did not respond to calls from the Gazette this week other than a text message response…