Local TV Programming Disrupted as Sinclair Hit by Ransomware Attack

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | 18 October 2021 | Alex Weprin

[ShadowAce]

Sinclair Broadcast Group said Monday that it was the victim of a ransomware attack, resulting in dozens of local newscasts and other programming being pulled off the air Sunday and Monday.

Sinclair is one of the largest owners of local TV stations in the U.S., operating 184 stations in 86 markets. The incident began on Sunday, with a source saying that emails and corporate phone lines were also taken down, complicating the incident further.

“On October 17, 2021, the Company identified that certain servers and workstations in its environment were encrypted with ransomware, and that certain office and operational networks were disrupted. Data also was taken from the Company’s network,” Sinclair said in a statement early Monday morning. “The Company is working to determine what information the data contained and will take other actions as appropriate based on its review.”

The company has also retained the services of a cybersecurity forensic firm and has notified law enforcement and government officials.

The ongoing disruption, which also kicked some NFL games off the air on Sunday, is likely to have an impact on the company’s businesses, though Sinclair could not immediately determine whether or not it would be a material impact.

“While the Company is focused on actively managing this security event, the event has caused – and may continue to cause – disruption to parts of the Company’s business, including certain aspects of its provision of local advertisements by its local broadcast stations on behalf of its customers,” the company added in its statement. “The Company is working diligently to restore operations quickly and securely.”

[ShadowAce]

Tech Ping

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sinclair is now seriously lamenting the fact that they don’t have a competent IT department that should’ve been updating their anti-virus software.

[suthener]

I flipped through my local channels yesterday and “Comet TV” was playing on 3 or 4 channels. This would explain it.

[no-to-illegals]

Is surprising someone would want to disrupt propaganda

[1Old Pro]

Yep, local news down in Albany, NY - WRGB 6

[DJ MacWoW]

Is surprising someone would want to disrupt propaganda

Sinclair Broadcast Group is local stations only and is Conservative. They're hated by the left.

[no-to-illegals]

DJ the local news stations are awash in lies in my local. It is different in your local ….. Congratulations. Sorry to disagree and speak my local truth

[Zathras]

“Hello, this is Peggy”

[DJ MacWoW]

DJ the local news stations are awash in lies in my local.

Are they owned by Sinclair?

Overall, we rate Sinclair Broadcast Group Right Biased based on political affiliation with the Republican Party and the direction of network news programming. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to airing news shows with poor fact check records.

Media Bias/Fact Check-lefty site

A short history of the right-wing politics of Sinclair Broadcasting-Media Matters

Sinclair, the pro-Trump, conservative company taking over local news, explained-Vox

[cgbg]

I got a hold of the ransom note.

Here is the key passage:

“When you provide proof of Covid vaccination for all employees, we will let you resume programming.”

[\/\/ayne]

PCMatic.com TV Commercial, 'Ransomware Millionaire'

[DJ MacWoW]

Most of the television stations run by Sinclair are owned by the company outright; however, the company operates many others through either a local marketing agreements or shared services agreements. The company's stations are affiliates of various television networks, like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

List of stations owned or operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group

[MAGA2017]

I’m curious if this is political targeting by the Left as Sinclair operates conservative talk radio stations.

[Major Matt Mason]

In today's political atmosphere, I think it is a pretty safe bet that the Marxists are trying to impose their will on any right-leaning citizen or institution. Frankly, I'm surprised that there are still Freepers that can't see this.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Any business that relies so heavily on the internet should have contingency plans in place to use as a workaround. Broadcasting via analog should be a viable alternative. Is it now illegal for some reason?

[_Jim]

re: “Broadcasting via analog should be a viable alternative. Is it now illegal for some reason?”

#1, put your brain back in its socket; #2 anymore today’s “TeeVee” stations are host to three or more ‘program streams’ ... I have seen as many as 8 from some stations.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Put all your eggs in the digital basket and see what it costs one day, like today.

[AppyPappy]

Anti-virus won’t help you if you ask someone to install ransomware which is usually what happens. Phishing attacks usually cause it and lax security on networks makes it worse.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

That makes sense.