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San Bernardino County pays $1.1M ransom after cyberattack disrupts Sheriff's Department systems
ABC7 ^ | 5/5/23 | staff

Posted on 05/05/2023 4:24:33 PM PDT by CFW

San Bernardino County paid a $1.1 million ransom to hackers who infiltrated the Sheriff's Department computers, officials acknowledged Friday.

Last month, the department admitted a hack encrypted many of its files, disrupting systems and blocking access to data.

County officials told ABC News on Friday that the county carries insurance for such attacks and its share of the ransom came out to just over $511,000.

After negotiating with the hackers, the insurance company and county agreed to pay to restore the system to its full functionality and secure data.

(Excerpt) Read more at abc7.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; hackers; hacking; leos; payoff; police; ransomware
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After all the stories of such hackers over the past few years, you would think that a county the size of San Barnardino would have more computer security in place.
1 posted on 05/05/2023 4:24:33 PM PDT by CFW
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To: CFW

Backups, backups, backups……

At a minimum.


2 posted on 05/05/2023 4:26:17 PM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure.)
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To: CFW

San Bernardino county is mostly desert lots of land but not much else I think its the biggest county in the nation


3 posted on 05/05/2023 4:32:24 PM PDT by al baby (Yes he did he said how come i wasnt invited )
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To: CFW

The insurance company should refuse to pay. The ones trusted to safeguard records and uphold the law are idiots. Back up is easy and how did they “negotiate” with the ransom demands? Should be easy to trace but then again, idiots in charge.


4 posted on 05/05/2023 4:33:29 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: CFW

Suckas.


5 posted on 05/05/2023 4:36:32 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: CFW

I am quite surprised this crime continues to happen. With stakes so high, I was certain measures would finally be in place to prevent such cyberattacks.

When better solutions are offered to the public, I wouldn’t be surprised if the designer of any such software was someone now under the age of 14. This is the second or third generation growing up surrounded by computers. Some kids know how to both hack and prevent or deter hacking very early in life. Many of us adults would require formal instruction.


6 posted on 05/05/2023 4:36:58 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: CFW

Message from your local police: In the event of blackmail, extortion, or demands for ransom, always pay the criminal whatever amount they want. They will go away and never bother you again.


7 posted on 05/05/2023 4:38:30 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (“You want it one way, but it's the other way”)
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To: al baby

It’s fairly wealthy. They don’t care about security


8 posted on 05/05/2023 4:42:03 PM PDT by Nifster ( I see puppy dogs in the clouds )
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To: CFW

I don’t see anything in the article that says the ransom payment worked


9 posted on 05/05/2023 4:42:58 PM PDT by jpp113
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To: wally_bert

(Backups, backups, backups……

At a minimum.)

Don’t tell the idiots at the plant I worked at (briefly) in 2014.

Stupidity on display. Sheer stupidity.


10 posted on 05/05/2023 4:43:32 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: CFW

The crooks in Bakersfield getting the upper hand on Law Enforcement itself. Kind of like a ‘Mini Me’ version of the Dr. Evil currently infesting the White House.


11 posted on 05/05/2023 4:43:58 PM PDT by Nateman (If Mohammad was not the Anti Christ Mad Moe definitely comes in as a Strong second..)
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To: al baby

Its also outlaw country. A different breed lives out there


12 posted on 05/05/2023 4:44:26 PM PDT by jpp113
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To: CFW

Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Newsome behind the hackers.....he’d rob his own mother.


13 posted on 05/05/2023 4:48:37 PM PDT by caww (O death, when you seized my Lord, you lost your grip on me......)
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To: wally_bert
Backups, backups, backups…… At a minimum.
I wish these stories would tell how it happened. Almost always someone clicking the attachment on a dodgy email. Sometimes through an infected flash drive brought from outside. Knowing how it happened would be a good education for the readers to help them be on guard
14 posted on 05/05/2023 4:52:01 PM PDT by BikerJoe
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To: wally_bert

The backup drives are only good for a certain number of years. They start developing issues over time. If you don’t replace them they can become unreliable.


15 posted on 05/05/2023 4:53:40 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: BikerJoe

Probably something too embarrassing to ever be admitted to the public.


16 posted on 05/05/2023 4:53:55 PM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

At least restore most recents.


17 posted on 05/05/2023 4:55:15 PM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure.)
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To: wally_bert

Unfortunately ransomware is usually an advanced persistent threat. They seed the encryption weeks even months in advance. Most backups would be compromised as well.


18 posted on 05/05/2023 4:58:42 PM PDT by rarestia (“A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.” -Hamilton)
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To: CFW

IMO . . . they do . . . and weren’t hacked . . . . this is traditional money laundering . . . IMO.


19 posted on 05/05/2023 5:05:53 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true . . . I have no proof, but they're true.)
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To: CFW

It is amazing how many idiots still click on links in emails where they have no idea who sent the email. Worse, they even click on installing software after that! Women are by far the worst offenders.


20 posted on 05/05/2023 5:19:49 PM PDT by CodeToad (No Arm up! They have!)
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