municipal ransomware News

Maryland Confirms Ransomware Attack Disrupted Agency Reporting COVID-19 Data

The disruption of Maryland’s reporting of COVID-19 data last month was caused by a ransomware attack, state officials said Wednesday. Chip Stewart, the state’s chief information security officer, said the state has not paid extortion demands for the attack, which …

How Common Are Ransomware Attacks? Lawmakers Want to Find Out.

After his local library had to shut down because of a ransomware attack, Indiana state Rep. Mike Karickhoff realized the state didn’t know much about the frequency of such security breaches. Spurred by similar crimes across Indiana last year, he …

Georgia County Ransomware Attack Highlights Cyber Exposures to Local Agencies

On the first Saturday in March, computer screens at the 911 dispatch center in this small town went dark. Staff at the county jail around the same time could no longer open cell doors remotely with electronic controls, and sheriff’s …

Putting Municipal Ransomware Attacks— and Cyber Insurance —in Context

The ransomware attacks on public entities in Texas, Florida, Maryland, Georgia and elsewhere this year have raised questions not only about paying ransoms but also about the role of insurance in helping these targets get back to serving the public. …