[BreachExchange] Information posted online after N Carolina ransomware attack

[Destry Winant]

https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-raleigh-c916ae6269df2e2df70702cede1511f7

PITTSBORO, N.C. (AP) — An investigation into a ransomware attack on a
North Carolina county’s computer network showed personal information
posted for sale on the “dark web,” the county said.

The Chatham County network was hit on Oct. 28 with ransomware that
originated in a phishing email with a malicious attachment, The News &
Observer of Raleigh reported Tuesday. It encrypted much of the
county’s network infrastructure and associated business systems, the
county announced.

County spokeswoman Kara Dudley said the hacker sent a ransom note
asking for 50 bitcoins, or about $2.4 million. The county refused to
pay.

County staffers are working with the N.C. Department of Health and
Human Services and the N.C. Attorney General’s Office to identify
files affected by the breach and to notify people whose personally
identifiable information or personal health information may be at
risk, County Manager Dan LaMontagne told the board of commissioners
Monday.

The cyberattack shut down most county functions and temporarily cut
off public access to services. Data also was stolen from county
systems, but LaMontagne said it’s not known what specifically was
taken.

The Chatham News & Record reported last week that it found sensitive
files, including county employee personnel records, eviction notices
and Chatham County Sheriff’s Office investigation documents, posted to
the internet, including to the dark web.

There were two releases, according to the News & Record. On Nov. 4,
“mostly innocuous” files were uploaded, LaMontagne told the newspaper.
In January, a second upload included more sensitive data. The
newspaper was able to take screenshots of a counter on the site
showing the files had been viewed over 30,000 times.

Staff had to wipe and re-image the county’s servers and over 550 staff
computers, LaMontagne said. Staff computers, internet, office phones
and voicemail are almost recovered, and they are adding security
measures and reinforcing employee training, he said.