Mathew J. Schwartz reports:
“You Hacked, ALL Data Encrypted.”
That was part of a message that reportedly appeared on thousands of Windows systems used by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, better known as Muni, in recent days, after they were locked by ransomware and 100 bitcoins – currently worth $73,000 – demanded in exchange for a decryption key.
The attack, which compromised more than 2,000 Muni payment and scheduling systems, began unfolding by Nov. 25 – during the busy Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping period – reports San Francisco Examiner. As a result, officials ordered Muni subway fare gates to be opened on Nov. 26 and all light-rail rides were free, which appears to have continued until Nov. 27, as IT personnel worked to scrub the ransomware from affected systems, it reports.
Read more on BankInfoSecurity.com.