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Texan government entities face ransomware attack

 

In Texas, a well-organized ransomware assault hit 20 entities of the local government, according to DIR (Department of Information Resources) of the state. Ransomware means malicious software, which blocks access to a computer for its operator and locks its entire data till the time the operator pays up an amount demanded for reclaiming hold over his system.

 

In one statement by the Texas Department of Information Resources it's evident that authorities belonging to state agencies are dealing with the cyber assault, however, there's no revelation of which agencies are affected. Presently, the Cyber-response Security Operations Centers of Texas DIR, the state's Military Department as well as Texas A & M University are employing resources for helping out the jurisdictions that are most critically affected. Additional resources are at standby to be used when they're required, DIR stated.

 

A DIR secretary handling the press informed KUT an affiliate of Austin NPR that there would be no disclosure of the hack affecting entities' names, to maintain security. www.thehill.com posted this, August 18, 2019.

 

Texas isn't the only state getting victimized with a ransomware attack. It's pretty usual to find cyber attackers demanding ransoms of as many as six-figure amounts for giving up their control over backup and current data from government hacked computers. Further, it often happens that towns end up paying the ransoms, like according to a report by CNBC during June, how Baltimore parted with several millions of dollars for getting back hold over its networks after being struck with a ransomware assault. Similarly, authorities within 2 towns of Florida spent massive sums for regaining access to the PC-networks of their respective area governments.

 

Cybersecurity Ventures in its 2018 report computed that a huge $8bn was lost worldwide in damages from such malicious software assaults during the period. In autumn season of 2018, Kirstjen Nielsen, who at the time was Homeland Security Secretary, conducted one cyber-security meet inside New York to pronounce the perils associated with digital attacks as more serious than other conventional online threats.

 

DIR advises any impacted local jurisdiction vis-à-vis the ransomware to talk to its area TDEM Disaster District Coordinator.

 

» SPAMfighter News - 8/26/2019

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