

It allows organizations to handle mass password reset operations following a ransomware attack seamlessly. Specops provides a Self-service Password Reset (SSPR) solution called Specops uReset. Seamlessly handle password resets with Specops uReset RDP servers exposed to the Internet can be an easy entry point to launch a ransomware attack. SamSam typically utilizes brute-force attacks against weak passwords used on servers and other critical resources.

However, the event ended up costing taxpayers an estimated $17 million. The attackers demanded $51,000 in Bitcoin to unlock the encrypted resources. The ransomware used was the notorious SamSam ransomware. In March 2018, attackers launched a ransomware attack on Atlanta, Georgia’s computer networks and resources. Note the following recent ransomware attacks targeting city governmental entities, the results, and events leading up to compromise: Unfortunately, many city governments have been ill-equipped to deal with these attacks, making the damage and fallout even more severe. Governmental entities, such as city governments, have been the target of many attacks.

The network has been disconnected from the internet for now, and many employees are working on a pen and paper system.” continues the website.Īt the time of writing, it is still impossible to evaluate the impact of the attack.Ransomware attacks on governmental entitiesĪs mentioned earlier, commercial businesses are not the only targets of high-profile ransomware attacks. “Employees have been ordered to shut off their computers until the source of the problem has been found. The Colorado National Guard and the FBI are working to restore normal operations. The attack forced CDOT employees to stop using computers and input data using pen and paper.Īccording to CDOT spokeswoman Amy Ford, the ransomware attack did not affect construction projects, signs, variable message boards and “critical traffic operations,”. It’s ahead of our tools.” Brandi Simmons, a spokeswoman for the state’s Office of Information Technology, told the Denver Post. “The variant of SamSam ransomware just keeps changing.

All the infected systems were taken down once again. “A spokeswoman for the Governor’s Office of Information Technology says this is a variation of the same ransomware that hit computers last week, when criminals demanded a Bitcoin payment in exchange for freeing up the software.”Īpproximately 20% of the machines infected by the first wave of attacks had been restored when a variation of the original Samsam ransomware hit the Colorado Department of Transportation for the second time. “Eight days into a ransomware attack, state information technology officials detected more malicious activity on the Colorado Department of Transportation computer systems Thursday.” reads the post published on the website.
#Ransomwhere cdot windows
The investigation on the first wave of infections revealed that the infected systems were running Windows OS and McAfee anti-virus software. The second incident occurred while the agency was still in the process of recovering its systems from the first attack.Įxactly two weeks ago, the SamSam ransomware made the headlines because it infected over 2,000 computers at the Colorado Department of Transportation (DOT). For the second time in a few days, a variant of the dreaded SamSam ransomware paralyzed the CDOT.
