cyber attack

Pensacola Government Faces Cyber Attack Hours After Shooting at Naval Base

The government has not linked the attack to the shooting, which is being investigated as an act of terrorism.

Just hours after a shooter killed three sailors at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, the city itself said it was facing a cyber attack that caused the government to disconnect city services until the problem could be addressed.

Mayor Grover Robinson said the cyber attack, which began on Friday, has affected the city’s email and phone services as well as 311 customer service and online payments to energy and sanitation services. But 911 and emergency services have not been affected by the attack, CNN reported.

City leaders declined to link the attack with the shooting at the naval base, which was conducted by a Saudi airman participating in flight training alongside other international students. The FBI is investigating the shooting, which injured eight people and killed three others, as an act of terrorism.

“It's really too early to say one way or another,” Kaycee Lagarde, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said to CNN regarding a connection between the cyber attack and the shooting. "We understand that it's on people's mind but we just don't know at this point.”

The FBI’s office in Jacksonville echoed that statement in a tweet on Monday.

 

 

The incident was reported to the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security as a precaution, according to a press release from the city. City services were still down as of Tuesday afternoon.

“The city does not yet have an estimate on when services will be fully restored, but Technology Resources staff is working to restore all network servers as soon as possible,” the government said in a Dec. 9 statement.

Officials did not specify if the attack involved ransomware, which hackers have increasingly used to extort money from city and state governments over the past two years. At least 22 local governments in Texas faced a series of coordinated ransomware attacks in August, not to mention recent high-profile attacks in Atlanta and Baltimore that cost the cities millions.

Hackers have also begun to increase their attacks on managed service providers, which offer technology and cybersecurity services to hundreds of businesses and local governments. The method allows malicious actors to extort several companies at once and increase their chances of receiving financial rewards.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Progressing in Capabilities

    Progressing in Capabilities

    Hazardous areas within industries like oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture and the like, have long-sought reliable video surveillance cameras and equipment that can operate safely in these harsh and unpredictable environments. Read Now

  • A Comprehensive Nationwide Solution

    A Comprehensive Nationwide Solution

    Across the United States, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, truck yards, parking lots and car dealerships all have a common concern. They are targets for catalytic converters. In nearly every region, cases of catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed. Read Now

  • Planning for Your Perimeter

    Planning for Your Perimeter

    The perimeter is an organization’s first line of defense and a critical element of any security and surveillance program. Even if a building’s interior or exterior security is strong, without a solid perimeter surveillance approach any company or business is vulnerable. Read Now

  • The Key Issue

    The Key Issue

    It is February 2014. A woman is getting ready in her room on a cruise ship when she hears a knock on the door; it is a crewmember delivering breakfast. She is not presentable so she tells him to leave it by the door. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Schlage RC reader controller

    Schlage RC Reader Controller

    This new innovative device combines the power of the Pure IP™ access control technology pioneered by ISONAS with Schlage’s intelligent hardware and credentials, delivering a comprehensive and cost-effective perimeter solution to customers. 3

  • Dahua 2-Wire IP Video Intercom System

    Dahua 2-Wire IP Video Intercom System

    Dahua Technology is introducing a new line of expandable 2-wire IP video intercom solutions for the North America market. The New 2-wire IP video intercom is more advanced, cost effective, and designed to help businesses increase their security. 3

  • Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    The new CORE Series cameras feature edge processing for ultimate scalability, built-in edge storage, and plug-and-play installation. The addition of the CORE Series gives installers new hardware, better choice, and more value than ever before. 3