Article

2020-07-01 Cyber

Knoxville police regain access to computer system following ransomware attack

[KNOXNEWS] The Knoxville Police Department regained use of its in-car computers more than two weeks after a ransomware attack shuttered the reporting system the officers use.

KPD previously announced officers would not respond to car crashes unless they involved injury or a disabled vehicle blocking traffic because they couldn't access their electronic reporting system.

Having officers return to "normal protocol" is another step in the city ridding itself and its systems from the ransomware attack. Late last week, officials said they do not intend on paying the ransom associated with the cyber attack and said they expected to have systems running in the next 10 days or so.

In a ransomware attack, cybercriminals gain access to computer files, lock them down and demand payment to restore access. Generally, as was the case with Knoxville, the hackers demand payment in bitcoin which is free of tracking by banks or governments. The city has declined to say how much the ransom is.

Posted by Fred 2020-07-01 00:00|| || Front Page|| [15 views ] Top

#1 Gotta back up all your files every day so when something like this happens you can tell the hackers to FOAD.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2020-07-01 12:50|| 2020-07-01 12:50|| Front Page Top

#2 A dumb move to target the police department (KPD.) There are plenty of cyber specialists in the area among the police agencies, Oak Ridge and UT.

Posted by JohnQC 2020-07-01 13:20|| 2020-07-01 13:20|| Front Page Top

#3 I admit I'm pretty lax on backing up (as in never). But when (not if) one of my personal devices pukes on me I just buy a new one. Government departments and other institutions like hospitals and legal marijuana grow sites need to have their stuff in gear at all times.

Posted by jpal 2020-07-01 16:00|| 2020-07-01 16:00|| Front Page Top

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