Tag: threaten | Page 4

Hackers Threaten to Release Personal Info if Allen ISD Doesn’t Pay Millions

October 6, 2021/in Computer Security

Online blackmailers targeting Allen ISD would rake in up to $10 million if they had their way.

Last month, hackers tried to extort the North Texas school district for millions of dollars — a demand that school officials rejected. Then on Monday, after Allen ISD refused to cough up the money, the thieves emailed parents, employees and students saying they’d publish their stolen personal information online, according to NBC-DFW.

“Staff and parents of Allen ISD, Howdy!” the email read, according to that outlet. “We give you five days to collect money.”

Allen ISD spokesman David Hicks didn’t return the Observer’s request for comment by publication time, but he told NBC-DFW that the district doesn’t plan to pay. As of now, there’s no proof to back up the group’s claims.

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Hackers have been making international headlines in recent months with a slew of high-profile attacks.

Some working under the Anonymous banner leaked data from controversial web hosting company Epik, according to The Daily Dot. The leak reportedly includes data linked to the state’s GOP, including “private documents.” Last month, after the state’s abortion ban took effect, Anonymous also appeared to have hacked into the Republican Party of Texas’ website.

Schools in particular seem to be among hackers’ favorite targets, and Allen ISD isn’t the only Texas district that was purportedly breached over the past year.

Located roughly 70 miles from Dallas, Athens’ school district had to delay the start of the 2020 school year because of a ransomware attack.

Earlier this fall, Dallas ISD contacted federal law enforcement after learning of a data security incident that exposed the personal information of parents, alumni, employees and students. On its website, the district noted that despite its best efforts, it’s now one of an increasing number of private and public organizations falling victim to such hacks.

Dallas ISD went on to say that as of now, the affected data appears to…

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Iranian cyberattacks threaten our daily operations – opinion

August 2, 2021/in Computer Security

According to a Sky News report based on classified documents allegedly from Iran, a cyber attack could sink a cargo ship or blow up a fuel pump at a gas station.

The Sky News report also details how satellite devices are used by the shipping industry globally and how a computer-based system controls lighting, heating, and ventilation in smart buildings worldwide.

According to a security source with knowledge of five research documents, the 57-page collection was gathered by an offensive cyber unit called Shahid Kaveh, part of Iran’s terrorist-linked Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“They are creating a target bank to be used whenever they see fit,” said the source, who requested to remain anonymous for the documents to be discussed directly.

Almost all of the files include a quote that appears to be from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei: “The Islamic Republic of Iran must become among the world’s most powerful in the area of cyber.” Sources describe this quote as something like a “commander’s intent statement.”

The front pages of only two of the reports mention the date of completion.

The first examines what is known as a building management system – the computer technology that controls things like lights, heating, and ventilation in smart buildings – from November 19, 2020.

Companies that provide these services are listed in the documents. Several manufacturers were involved, including Honeywell in the…

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Hackers Threaten to Release Police Records, Knock 911 Offline

May 18, 2021/in Computer Security

(TNS) — A cyber criminal gang that breached the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department’s computer network in a ransomware attack published detailed information last week about nearly two dozen officers, including Social Security numbers and psychological assessments.

The group, Babuk, already had posted on the dark web lengthy dossiers of several officers. It claimed it stole more than 250 gigabytes of data late last month and is threatening to release more information as well as share files containing the names of confidential informants with criminal gangs if officials don’t pay a ransom.

The most recently posted documents contain sensitive information about 22 officers, such as fingerprints, dates of birth, polygraph test results and residential, financial and marriage history, according to NBC News. The hackers claim that they demanded $4 million in ransom and the department countered with $100,000, which they deemed unacceptable.

“This was the most serious incident involving a police department that we’ve seen to date. It doesn’t get much worse,” said Brett Callow, a threat analyst for cybersecurity company Emsisoft. “The release of that information could put officers and civilians at risk.”

A separate ransomware attack forced the recent shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline, leading to panic buying and gas shortages on the East Coast. Cyber criminals also have launched ransomware attacks on school districts, health care systems, courts and local government offices.

But when the hackers have struck police departments, cybersecurity experts say, they pose a particularly serious threat to public safety.

Ransomware attacks have taken down 911 systems, prevented officers from checking suspects’ criminal histories during traffic stops and blocked access to investigative files or video, impeding investigations. In some cases, prosecutors have had to drop criminal cases.

“We equate it to kidnapping,” said Jonathan Thompson, executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association. “In this case, the victim is the data, but most importantly, it’s the community. Law enforcement has to…

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