FBI/DHS Investigate Malware Attack in Ada County Idaho

Exploit: Ransomware
Ada County Highway District: Independent government agency operating in Garden City, Idaho
 

Risk to Small Business: 2 = Severe: A ransomware attack injected into the agency’s system through malicious malware restricted access to the computer networks for nearly 30 hours. While the agency hasn’t found evidence that the hackers accessed the department’s database, they can’t conclusively rule out a more extensive breach. The agency has declined to pay the undisclosed ransom demanded by the hackers.

Individual Risk: 2 = Severe: There is no indication that hackers accessed any individual data during the attack. However, since the agency can’t conclusively rule out access to their database, those with information at the agency should monitor their personal information for signs of fraud or misuse.

Customers Impacted: Unknown
How it Could Affect Your Customers’ Business: Ransomware attacks are growing in frequency and sophistication, making it mandatory that companies of all sizes develop a comprehensive plan for responding to the threat and ensuring that services remain operational during an attack. These contingencies can be the difference between a temporary disruption and a major debacle. Moreover, since many ransomware attacks start with phishing emails, employee training and security contingencies are a must-have protocol in today’s digital environment.

Risk Levels:

1 - 1.5 = Extreme Risk
1.51 - 2.49 = Severe Risk
2.5 - 3 = Moderate Risk

*The risk score is calculated using a formula that considers a wide range of factors related to the assessed breach.