Cyber attack hits Atlanta computers

"Cyber attack hits Atlanta computers | 'Everyone who has done business' with city may be at risk...

...[C]ity of Atlanta computers have been cyber attacked by ransomware that has encrypted some personal and financial data.

"We don't know the extent of the attack," said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in a Thursday afternoon press conference..."

http://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/...usiness-with-city-may-be-at-risk/85-530947288

Atlanta hit with cyberattack demanding ransom for access to files...

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-ransomware-cyberattack-holding-computers-hostage/

 

"According to a statement from the city, its computers are 'currently experiencing outages on various internal and customer facing applications, including some applications that customers use to pay bills or access court-related information.'...

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said everyone who has ever done business with the city could be affected. This includes employees.
'We don't know the extent or if anyone's personal data or bank accounts will be compromised,' she said. 'All of us are subject to this attack.'
Bottoms said you should assume that if you pay city bills, fines, etc. that your information could be compromised..."

http://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/...the-city-of-atlanta-cyber-attack/85-531082825

Ransom demand is $51,000 bitcoin.

 

I wonder.... if it's possible to find out what program/software Atlanta used for "protection"......

just curious

 

And I wonder if they utilize some form of a backup system storage, and if that is continuous or time period set.

Either way the fat is in the fire on those series connected systems for certain.

 

"A Cyberattack Hobbles Atlanta, and Security Experts Shudder

ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta’s 8,000 employees got the word on Tuesday that they had been waiting for: It was O.K. to turn their computers on.

But as the city government’s desktops, hard drives and printers flickered back to life for the first time in five days, residents still could not pay their traffic tickets or water bills online, or report potholes or graffiti on a city website. Travelers at the world’s busiest airport still could not use the free Wi-Fi.

Atlanta’s municipal government has been brought to its knees since Thursday morning by a ransomware attack — one of the most sustained and consequential cyberattacks ever mounted against a major American city...

'We are dealing with a hostage situation,' Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said this week.

Threat researchers at Dell SecureWorks, the Atlanta-based security firm helping the city respond to the ransomware attack, identified the assailants as the SamSam hacking crew, one of the more prevalent and meticulous of the dozens of active ransomware attack groups..."

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/...column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

 

The only ones held hostage in this is their own self. With world wide publicity now many months spread on this danger, they obviously have "weak security" in place against such intrusions.

It kills me when these computer systemed institutions run up the red flag and scream victim when in reality they simply ignored that this real potential is ongoing and it's just plain common sense to have already set in place ransomware security programs designed to prevent it in the first place.

This type stuff is always been more geared to experts but I seen it before. Appropriate portion of taxpayer revenue for computer system enhancements, portion out another large spending sum for promotion, add a mediocre security safeguard and feel confident the system is secure.

Ransomware like is been quoted by developer right here in our forums is even stated as much, ransomware threats are not going away.

 

And it really does not matter what security solution they had installed if the IT staff does not know how to properly use it.

 

Atlanta warned repeatedly of security risks before ransomware infection: Reports

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/mar/30/atlanta-warned-repeatedly-security-risks-ransomwar/

 

I used to be outraged at the hackers. But a snake is a snake.

Now I'm disgusted by large institutions that have less than current state of the art security.

Atlanta, UnderArmor etc. etc. THIS YOUR FAULT! OWN IT.

 

"Atlanta Still Reeling From SamSam Group Cyber Attack [9-days after the attack]

The SamSam group launched a major cyber attack against the government of the city of Atlanta. Nine days later, the city of Atlanta’s local government is still reeling as local government officials struggle to recover from the ransomware attack...

Atlanta government officials have been forced to revert back to only telephones and paper to conduct operations...

Atlanta City Auditor Amanda Noble told Reuters,'one of the reasons why municipalities are vulnerable is we just have so many different systems.' Mark Weatherford, a former senior DHS cyber official stated of the Atlanta cyber attack, 'this could turn out to be really bad if they never get their data back.' "

https://www.inquisitr.com/4850202/atlanta-still-reeling-from-samsam-group-cyber-attack/

 

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2018/04/02/cyberattacks-wakeup-call-for-local-governments-to-prepare/

 

This is a national emergency & security threat. There's money for black ops but none to keep cyber hacking at bay. Evil just plain evil.

 

"Atlanta takes down water department website two weeks after cyber attack

(Reuters) - Atlanta took down its water department website indefinitely on Thursday, two weeks after a ransomware cyber attack tore through the city’s computer systems in one of the most disruptive hacks ever to strike a U.S. local government...

Atlanta’s watershed department was among the operations hard-hit by the March 23 attack that continues to block access to databases, postpone municipal court dates and stifle the city’s ability to collect some payments for public services..."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...te-two-weeks-after-cyber-attack-idUSKCN1HC2WB

 

It sounds like they had none!! When are these places going to learn and get properly protected sheesh...

 

Amen to that!

 

"Cyberattack Prevents Prospective Homeowners From Closing Real Estate Purchases

After experiencing a cyberattack on city hall, the city of Atlanta is now facing another related crisis: home-sale closings throughout the Georgia city have been forced to a halt at the peak of buying season..."

https://www.theepochtimes.com/cyber...om-closing-real-estate-purchases_2486666.html

 

Massive Ransomware attack cost City of Atlanta $2.7 million

https://securityaffairs.co/wordpress/71450/security/city-atlanta-ransomware-cost.html

 

Isn't it ironic. A so called City? on the scale of (heavy traffic) hotlanta, and those in charge of such systems ignored what even third world peep users know is been plastered all over the news for many many months beforehand, didn't bother to make provision far in advance with plenty of time to lock down preventions.

Well, just tack it on to the tribute/taxpayers. It's always easy for any municipalities to invent and introduce new increases to cover neglect in much the same way money can be dished out for promotions-ads for this and that.

 

Should the Federal Government step in & offer assistance to all cities?

I think so. What else? This will keep happening.

 

They could have bought allot of security software for 2.7mil.

 

"Atlanta cyberattack destroyed critical police evidence...

The attack wiped out the city police department's dashcam footage archive which could compromise DUI cases...

Shields would not speculate on how many cases were affected but when asked if the attack may have compromised any use of force or pursuit cases, Shields said she not worried.

'I'm not overly concerned,' Shields said. 'I'm really not, because that's a tool, a useful tool, but the dashcam doesn't make cases for us'...”

https://www.scmagazine.com/atlanta-cyberattack-destroyed-critical-police-evidence/article/771087/

 

Why aren't civil servants & their bosses going to prison for this type of negligence. They used to. Honestly there used to be justice & public servants who committed crimes got punished.

I mean my *** Flint Michigan STILL has poisonous water. No Fed or State providing pure water. And no public officials being charged with murder.

 

"Atlanta officials reveal worsening effects of cyber attack

(Reuters) - The Atlanta cyber attack has had a more serious impact on the city’s ability to deliver basic services than previously understood, a city official said at a public meeting on Wednesday, as she proposed an additional $9.5 million to help pay for recovery costs...

More than a third of the 424 software programs used by the city have been thrown offline or partially disabled in the incident, Atlanta Information Management head Daphne Rackley said. Nearly 30 percent of the affected applications are considered “mission critical,” affecting core city services, including police and courts...

Top city officials are still discovering the extent of the ransomware incident, in which hackers demanded $51,000 worth of bitcoin for the release of encrypted city data. Atlanta has said it did not pay the ransom..."

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-c...mysterious-illness-nyt-idUKKCN1J232K?rpc=401&