Oakland Confirms Data Leaked in Ransomware Attack – NBC Bay Area
Oakland Confirms Data Leaked in Ransomware Attack NBC Bay Area
Tag Archive for: NBC
Oakland Ransomware Attack – NBC Bay Area
Oakland Interim City Administrator G Harold Duffey on Tuesday issued a local state of emergency due to “ongoing impacts” of network outages caused by ransomware, the city announced on Twitter.
The declaration of the emergency will allow the city to expedite its attack on the malicious software.
A ransomware attack occurs when someone encrypts files and demands ransom to decrypt them. The encryption makes the files and the systems that rely on them unusable, according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Oakland was the victim of a ransomware attack that began Wednesday night, police and city officials said Friday.
The emergency declaration will assist with equipment and materials and the activation of emergency workers as the city seeks to safely restore its systems.
The city’s information technology department is working with law enforcement to determine the scope and severity of the attack.
City officials did not release the amount of ransom the attackers are asking for, nor the extent of the attack.
As of Friday, the attack was not affecting residents’ ability to call 911. Nor has it affected the city’s financial data or fire resources, though at least one city department was unable to file its timecards due to the attack.
The public also can still file crime reports on the city’s website. The city said residents and visitors can expect delays in hearing from city staff and officials.
Because of the attack, the information technology department has taken down impacted computer systems.
“The City is appreciative of the community for their patience as staff across the organization work collaboratively to minimize disruptions and implement workarounds to normal business processes that allow the City to continue delivering services,” tweeted the city of Oakland account on Tuesday evening.
Bristol Community College, Swansea School Ransomware Cyberattacks – NBC Boston
Ransomware attacks have hit a community college and a school district in Massachusetts’ Bristol County, interrupting classes as officials work to regain total control over their internet networks.
Ransomware attacks involve someone taking over a computer system or network and demanding payment, often in the form of cryptocurrency, to release it.
Online services, including email, at Bristol Community College have been affected for over a week. The cyberattack was discovered Dec. 23, though classes have continued.
“We would like to thank you for your patience and flexibility over the past week as we navigate the impact of what we now know to be a criminal cyberattack, which is an attempt by hackers to damage the college’s computer network,” the college said in a statement last week. “This has been a very difficult time for the college and we are grateful for your understanding. Winter classes are in session and we continue to move forward with our plans for the Spring semester.”
A message about the service disruption was still on the college’s website Wednesday.
Lynette Owens of Trend Micro joins us to talk about the threat of ransomware attacks at school and how to keep kids safe online.
Across the Taunton River in Swansea, school was closed for primary and secondary students Wednesday because the district’s internet network was being held ransom, its superintendent said.
The ransomware attack was being worked on Wednesday, after Swansea Public Schools Superintendent John Robidoux announced the closure Tuesday. He didn’t give a timeline on when schools would reopen.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the two ransomware attacks were connected. NBC10 Boston was reaching out to the FBI to see if they were assisting in either investigation.
Other school districts have been…
