WASHINGTON — Computer hackers have been using ransomware to extort money from upstate New York municipalities, including the Town of Manlius in Onondaga County and the village of Ilion in Herkimer County.
Ilion paid an $800 ransom to unlock its computers two years ago, while Manlius was able to thwart the attack, Sen. Charles Schumer told reporters Wednesday. He said small municipalities often are targets because “they lack technology teams and sophisticated software to protect them from hackers.”
A typical ransomware attack begins with “phishing” emails that appear to be from trusted senders but contain malicious attachments that activate when opened, according to the Justice Department. Another method used by criminals involves hacking into websites to plant malware.
Victims lose control of their computers and see a message giving them a short time to pay a ransom to unlock their devices. For the full article click here
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