Tri-City Medical hit with ransomware attack – NBC San Diego
Tri-City Medical hit with ransomware attack NBC San Diego
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San Bernardino County, Calif., Pays $1M Over Hack
(TNS) — Weeks after a cyberattack crippled the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department computer systems, county officials confirmed that the hackers had been paid a $1.1-million ransom.
The ransomware attack, discovered in early April, forced the department to temporarily shut down some of its computer systems, including email, in-car computers and some law enforcement databases, including a system that deputies use for background checks.
After negotiating with the hackers, San Bernardino County paid slightly less than half the total — $511,852 — and its insurance carrier covered the rest, said county spokesman David Wert.
“On balance, and consistent with how other agencies have handled these types of situations, this was determined to be the responsible course,” Wert said.
Ransomware attacks on public institutions such as cities, school districts and hospitals have risen sharply in the U.S. in recent years. Government computer networks can contain troves of sensitive data and often have less robust protections than those of major companies.
During a ransomware attack, hackers steal or block access to key files or data, then demand payment in exchange for returning or restoring them. Such attacks can also involve threats that sensitive information, such as Social Security and credit card numbers, will be exposed if the victim doesn’t pay.
The FBI says it does not pay ransom in such attacks and advises victims not to either.
It’s exceedingly rare for ransoms to be paid for hacks involving law enforcement agencies, in part because of who could be on the receiving end of the transaction, said Clifford Neuman, the director of USC’s Center for Computer Systems Security.
“If you’re paying through cryptocurrency, you don’t know who you’re paying it to,” Neuman said. “It could be a sanctioned entity, whether it’s Iran, whether it’s North Korea, whether it’s a terrorist organization.”
And, Neuman said, there are the optics to think about. Being hacked is embarrassing for any organization, but “even more embarrassing when it’s a police agency making this decision. They’re supposed to…
San Bernardino County pays hackers $1.1 million ransom after cyber attack
A hacker who in April caused a “network disruption” of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s computer system was paid a $1.1 million ransom to let county officials back into the network.
The ransom was announced on Friday by county officials, who stated that the hacker uploaded ransomware to infiltrate the sheriff’s department’s information technology system. The disruption included sheriff’s officials being unable to access a system that provides information on whether a person is wanted for crimes elsewhere in the county, Sheriff Shannon Dicus said.
Department officials became aware of the incident on April 7, according to county officials, who said they immediately secured the network and were working with its information technology staff and third-party forensic specialists to investigate.
After the disruption, county officials referred the incident to partnering law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
A ransomware attack occurs when a hacker gains access to a system, usually through malicious software, according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The attacker then encrypts the server’s data and makes demands in return for its decryption.
During the April disruption, whether the incident involved, a cyberattack or other threat against the sheriff’s department was unknown.
County officials did not say when the $1.1 million was paid to the hackers, how long the system was inaccessible to the department, or why officials waited until now to inform the public about the ransom payment.
The Daily Press submitted several questions to county officials, such as whether the paid ransom had assurances that there would be no additional attacks or how the ransom was paid.
County spokesman David Wert on Friday told the Daily Press that further information on the cyberattack could not be disclosed at this time in light of the ongoing criminal investigation.
Why was a ransom paid?
After “careful consideration,” county officials opted to pay the $1.1 million ransom to the…
San Bernardino County pays $1.1-million ransom over Sheriff’s Department hack
Weeks after a cyberattack crippled the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department computer systems, county officials confirmed that the hackers had been paid a $1.1-million ransom.
The ransomware attack, discovered in early April, forced the department to temporarily shut down some of its computer systems, including email, in-car computers and some law enforcement databases, including a system that deputies use for background checks.
After negotiating with the hackers, San Bernardino County paid slightly less than half the total — $511,852 — and its insurance carrier covered the rest, said county spokesman David Wert.
“On balance, and consistent with how other agencies have handled these types of situations, this was determined to be the responsible course,” Wert said.
Ransomware attacks on public institutions such as cities, school districts and hospitals have risen sharply in the U.S. in recent years. Government computer networks can contain troves of sensitive data and often have less robust protections than those of major companies.
During a ransomware attack, hackers steal or block access to key files or data, then demand payment in exchange for returning or restoring them. Such attacks can also involve threats that sensitive information, such as Social Security and credit card numbers, will be exposed if the victim doesn’t pay.
The FBI says it does not pay ransom in such attacks and advises victims not to either.
It’s exceedingly rare for ransoms to be paid for hacks involving law enforcement agencies, in part because of who could be on the receiving end of the transaction, said Clifford Neuman, the director of USC’s Center for Computer Systems Security.
“If you’re paying through cryptocurrency, you don’t know who you’re paying it to,” Neuman said. “It could be a sanctioned entity, whether it’s Iran, whether it’s North Korea, whether it’s a terrorist organization.”
And,…