Ransomware attacks hit two Ontario children’s aid societies

Sandro Contenta reports:

Ransomware attacks at two children’s aid societies have spurred the Ontario government to tighten cybersecurity around a new, $123-million provincial database for children in care.

One of the agencies — the Children’s Aid Society of Oxford County — paid a $5,000 ransom to regain access to their sensitive data after the malware attack on their local servers on Jan. 18, according to sources with knowledge of the incident.

Officials with the other agency — Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville — saw an English ransom message flash on their computer screens, demanding $60,000, when they tried to access their database in November.