Unfortunately ransomware attacks have taken another victim. The City of Dallas recently confirmed that their police department suffered a ransomware attack. This attack shutdown essential services along with some 911 dispatch systems.
This was announced in a statement by the city in a press release. "Wednesday morning, the City’s security monitoring tools notified our Security Operations Center (SOC) that a likely ransomware attack had been launched within our environment. Subsequently, the City has confirmed that a number of servers have been compromised with ransomware, impacting several functional areas, including the Dallas Police Department Website.”
This attack could be a serious risk to the people of Dallas - with crucial services such as police, ambulance service and court proceedings possibly affected. Details of where the attack vector originated from are still unclear.
While ransomware attacks are costly to organizations in nature, they can be prevented. End-user education, such as new-school security awareness training, can ensure your employees are actively reporting any suspicious activity online.
InfoSecurity Magazine has the full story.
