WMNF 88.5FM attacked by ransomware forces station to stop live broadcasts

Exploit: Ransomware
WMNF 88.5 FM: Tampa-based community radio station

Risk to Small Business: 1.777 = Severe: A ransomware attack on WMNF 88.5 FM forced the station to stop its live broadcasts, leaving listeners with pre-recorded shows instead. The attack also impacted their AudioVault system that includes much of the station’s programming, including advertising material that constitutes a significant share of their revenue. In addition, ransomware restricted access to office files and forms. However, rather than paying the ransom, the station reported the incident to authorities and brought in a cybersecurity contractor to restore their files. Of course, these services alongside the opportunity cost incurred when the station’s material wasn’t accessible will still be an expensive solution for the local radio station.

Individual Risk: No personal information was compromised in the breach.

Customers Impacted: Unknown
How it Could Affect Your Customers’ Business: Even without paying a ransom demand, recovering from a ransomware attack is extremely expensive. Therefore, every organization needs to take every precaution possible to prevent these attacks in the first place. This certainly includes analyzing IT infrastructure for vulnerabilities, but it should also mean attaining the services necessary to know if your employee’s credentials are for sale on the Dark Web where they can be used to facilitate a ransomware attack.