What local governmental entity department was the newest target to hackers holding data for ransom? Durham, N.H., Police Department
How did the hackers do it? Attached a file to a email on a relevant police investigation that appeared to be fax file.
What did the police department do? Pay the ransom? Beat the ransom technology? The police department mitigated damage by recovering the locked files from a backup copy that hadn’t been infected. The department paid no ransom.
Is this an isolated example? No, these police departments have also been affected by ransomeware:
- 5 small police departments in Maine
- Police departments in these states have been hit by ransomeware:
- Illinois
- Massachusettes
- Tennessee
- These local governments have been hit by ransomeware:
- Detroit
- Medfield, Massachusettes
How has ransomeware grown in private sector? FBI says in 2014 the number of incidents grew 114%