Cyberattack Continues to Plague the City of Atlanta

Cyberattack Continues to Plague the City of Atlanta

It is one of the largest cyberattacks against a major U.S. city.

A week ago, the government computers in Atlanta, Georgia were hit with a cyberattack that has continued to wreak havoc on the city for the last eight days.

Since the City of Atlanta has been hit by the cyberattack, they have been allowed to turn on and use the government desktops, hard drives and printers, but residents have found that they can no longer pay their traffic tickers or water bills online, or report potholes or graffiti on the city's website, according to the New  York Times. Travelers flying through Georgia's international airport still cannot use the free WiFi.

Atlanta's municipal government, which serves nearly six million people, was hit by a ransomeware attack that cripples their computers or network and blocks access to important data until a ransom has been paid. The attack shows just how much municipal governments rely on their computer networks for day-to-day operations.

Threat researchers at Dell SecureWorks, the Atlanta-based security firm helping the city respond to the ransomeware attack, identified the assailants as the "SamSam" hacking crew. The SamSam groups is known for choosing targets that are the most likely to accede to its high ransom demands, in this case they are asking for $51,000.

There were some systems that were not affected, including those for 911 calls and control of wastewater treatment, but other arms of city government have been scrambling for days. The Atlanta Municipal Court has been unable to validate warrants, police officers are writing reports by hand, the city has stopped taking employment applications.

The Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, has not said whether or not the city will pay the ransom.

 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3