On May 7,hackers infectedabout 10,000 of Baltimore metropolis government ’s data processor with an fast-growing form of ransomware call RobbinHood , and insisted the metropolis pay13 bitcoin(then $ 76,280 , today $ 102,310 ) to cut the information processing system loose . The hackers claimed the damage would go up every day after four days , and after the tenth day , the affected files would be lost forever .
“ We wo n’t talk more , all we have sex is MONEY ! ” the ransom note read . “ look sharp up ! Tik Tak , Tik Tak , Tik Tak ! ”
But the city has not ante up . In the two weeks since , Baltimore citizens have not had access to many city avail . The city defrayal services and email systems are still offline .
Photo: Patrick Semansky (AP)
A May 7Baltimore Sunreport stated the Robbinhood ransomware used in this attack encrypts files with a “ filing cabinet - locking ” computer virus so the hackers can hold the files surety . Among the department that have had issues with their email and phone systems are the Department of Public Works , the Department of Transportation , and the Baltimore Police Department .
accord to theWall Street Journal , Baltimore Health Department ’s epidemiologist are n’t able to use the internet that allows them to alert citizen of sure types of drugs are causing late overdoses .
Many services have resume through phone , and vital emergency systems like 911 and 311 reportedly continue to function . The ransomwarefroze the systemthe city utilize for carry out home sales agreement , which reportedly pain the local market , but the metropolis lead off implementinga manual workaroundearlier this week .
“ All of our agencies are working together , around the clock , to restore connectivity and to minimize any incommodiousness to the ecumenical public ” Mayor Bernard Young said in a statement about resuming real property transactions . “ My administration play closely with manufacture experts and develop a workaround that will allow for real estate transactions to continue . ”
Last Friday , the mayor release a foresighted financial statement about the city ’s reply to the blast , submit that the city is “ well into the revitalizing process ” and cooperating with the FBI ’s investigation .
“ I am not able to cater you with an exact timeline on when all scheme will be reinstate , ” Young said . “ You may see partial divine service beginning to restore within a affair of weeks , while some of our more intricate systems may take months in the recuperation process . ”
The statements have testify that the city has no involvement in paying the hackers .
Last month , Greenville , North Carolina , was also make with a RobbinHood onslaught , of which the hacker also demanded 13 bitcoin . The metropolis told theWall Street Journalit did not pay .
This is the secondcybersecurity attackBaltimore has faced in 15 month . Last yr ’s onslaught disrupted the 911 emergency system . AsNPRreports , Baltimore is just the latest of the more than 20 municipality that have been struck by cyberattacks this year , signaling anominous future as our cities become increasingly online .
BaltimoreCybersecurityHacking
Daily Newsletter
Get the best technical school , science , and civilization tidings in your inbox day by day .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
