Ransomware Attack on Madison County Knocks Down Government Work

Madison County, Indiana's public officials can't reach the Madison's server ever since certain ransomware assault locked the computer files while held them hostage till an enormous sum of money was paid for their decryption or complete retrieval.

Jeff Hardin, Commissioner for Madison County told The Herald Bulletin that the Friday's assault didn't affect the ballots and voting records of the county as they were saved on one PC not connected to the server. There was no compromise of any voter's information, nor the early vote of anybody got lost, nor any obstacle expected for anybody casting his or her ballot next time.

Reportedly according to Scott Mellinger, Sheriff of the county, the assault locked the computers that firefighters, police, staff of county courts as well as other government employees used inside Madison some 30 miles from Indianapolis' northeast direction. Wfyi.com posted this online dated November 7, 2016.

On Monday November 7, firefighters, local police, Fox partner WXIN as well as other officials had to log all records manually while investigation into the incident went on. The State Police Cybercrimes Unit of Indiana was conducting the probe. Officers in various capacities could neither access criminal records nor court records stacked on archives, while were also unable to use PCs for enrolling suspects to prison as well.

Scott Mellinger reportedly stated that there were numerous unknowns in the incident as even people who were investigating and who had plentiful experience within the field were telling that they had never handled the particular virus earlier.

Further telling to WTHR, Dave Bursten State Police Captain of Indiana described the situation as that of the '80s the period he joined his work when the department was using paper and pencil to do everything.

And though the ransomware didn't seemingly disrupt voting systems or emergency services, Capt. Bursten in an interview to the county television station said that all other commercial activity at Madison had been derailed. Certain county offices along with courts were closed, while working staff were asked to take vacation else personal time within offices elsewhere the places that could not conduct work.

» SPAMfighter News - 11/15/2016