The Ransomware Dilemma: What if Your Local Government Is Next?
Although ransomware took a backseat to other attack vectors in 2018, the threat has regained momentum this year. The most recent high-profile ransomware attack occurred 20 miles from my home, in the City of Baltimore on May 7. Baltimore was attacked by a ransomware strain known as RobinHood, and attackers demanded approximately $100,000 in exchange for the digital keys that would restore the city’s systems and access to data. To date, Baltimore has refused to pay the ransom. We are now three weeks into the attack; significant disruptions continue to occur and are costing the city dearly in financial and reputational damages.