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Garfield County succumbs to ransomware attack

 

A ransomware assault struck the computer systems of Garfield County leading to their collapse over weeks together prior to the County surrendering by paying up for acquiring access of locked data on their systems, authorities substantiated to FOX 13. Reportedly, after somebody opened one phishing e-mail previously during 2019 that the ransomware assault was launched. The malware filched data from county offices followed with blocking away its access to the rightful owners.

 

According to Barry Huntington Attorney of Garfield County, the entire data of the county had been seized. Several files from Recorder's Office, Assessor's Office had been stolen while county officials did not know in what way or for what reason. Ultimately an e-mail arrived inside the county inbox telling that certain terrorists were behind the theft of Garfield's information while the county must pay for getting back the stolen info. Following this, the state stopped using its systems and Federal Bureau of Investigation became involved. All computers were abandoned from operation so investigation by the authorities could commence. Work was going on through handwritten files, as PCs were non-operational, Huntington explained. Fox13now.com posted this, April 11 2019.

 

In the end, Garfield County made the ransom payment to the perpetrator in Bitcoin for restoring hold over their systems, data-files and mobile phones. While FBI discourages handing over ransoms within the above kind of situations, it however, admits at times victims mayn't have any other alternative.

 

Jeffrey Collins Supervisory Special Agent at FBI speaking to FOX 13 said FBI knew about other ransomware assaults targeting a few other governments of Utah State. There had been instances of other cities in the locality that had been infected, and those cities struggled with their backups for restoration of their files. One other city was compelled for making the ransom payment following which they successfully got back their lost access, Collins enumerated.

 

Telling about Garfield County's latest situation Huntington said it had quite well recovered from the assault after spending money as well as adopting measures for getting their systems more secure. Collins stated it was good practice counties and cities maintained for ensuring continual working of offsite backups.

 

» SPAMfighter News - 4/17/2019

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