West Chester Township Encounters Second Possible Cybersecurity Breach
West Chester Township is facing its second potential cybersecurity incident attributed to the same hacking group within a month, as disclosed in a recent news release.
At approximately 6:45 a.m. on August 26, officials were alerted to a possible breach targeting the township’s central email server. The release stated that, at this time, there is no substantiated evidence indicating that any data has been compromised.
While the township refrained from naming the hacking group responsible for the incident, it implored media outlets to refrain from disseminating specific information about the group or the dark web channels they utilize, aiming to avoid inadvertently legitimizing their activities.
The initial encounter with the hacking group transpired on August 12. According to the township, this earlier incident was “swiftly isolated and contained,” mitigating further risk.
Since the breach on August 12, West Chester Township has been actively collaborating with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, its legal counsel, and cybersecurity specialists to examine the situation, fortify defenses, and address the looming threat.
The township has commenced a forensic analysis of the assault and has enacted protocols to safeguard “critical systems and sensitive data.”
Cybersecurity Incidents Affecting Greater Cincinnati Businesses
In 2020, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office fell victim to a phishing email that compelled the department to sever operations online for a month in order to limit the hackers’ access to sensitive information.
A 2022 report from The Enquirer detailed various cyberattacks that took place prior to and during 2022, targeting entities such as Cincinnati’s Museum Center, the Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Kroger, UC Health, Christ Hospital, Mount Healthy Schools, WKRC-TV’s parent company Sinclair Broadcasting, and Planning and Development Services of Kenton County.
Nationally, cybercrime inflicted losses amounting to $16.6 billion in 2024.
An annual report by the Internet Crime Complaint Center indicated that much of the reported fiscal damage in 2024 stemmed from fraud. The document identified ransomware as the predominant threat to “critical infrastructure.”
Ransomware is defined by the FBI as a type of pernicious software that obstructs access to computer files, systems, or networks, requiring payment of a ransom for their restoration.
Source link: Yahoo.com.
