On December 11, 2018, North Bend, a city in Oregon, reported that a ransomware attack rendered its computer systems and databases temporarily inaccessible to city workers. The cyberattack originally targeted the North Bend Police Department, but with many of the city’s servers interconnected, the virus quickly spread throughout the city's computer network.
As soon as the attack was identified, city officials reported the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Fortunately, the most recent backups of the City of North Bend’s files were not impacted by the attack. City officials were able to work with the FBI to restore the city’s systems using these latest backups.
So far, security experts can’t confirm whether any sensitive information was accessed during the attack. Although the investigation did not reveal the perpetrators, the attack was traced back to Romania. The FBI also found that the virus entered the network sometime in October. Even though the city had insured itself against such attacks, it didn't have to pay the ransom due to its good practice of maintaining frequent backups. To prevent similar attacks in the future, the city has reportedly strengthened its firewall security.
Don't want to make the news for the wrong reasons? Download ManageEngine DataSecurity Plus, a tool that can detect, classify , and secure personal data , and mitigate ransomware attacks.
Firewalls and other traditional security systems no longer provide adequate protection against sophisticated cyberattacks. What you need is an advanced solution that is capable of connecting the dots to detect, and respond to ransomware attacks. DataSecurity Plus is an automated ransomware threat identification and mitigation solution which:
DataSecurity Plus uses a built-in ransomware detection and response mechanism to lock down infected devices and prevent further damage caused by ransomware spreading to storage devices or network systems. You can also set up your own automated responses, including the execution of a batch file, to quickly respond to ransomware attack alerts.
Follow these eight best practices to avoid cyberattacks and protect your organization. Try out all these features by downloading the free, 30-day trial version of DataSecurity Plus today.
You will receive weekly cybersecurity news soon!
2022 Zoho Corporation Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.