Cyber attacks against North Dakota increased 300% last year

Grand Forks Hearld ^ | 01 16 2020 | Sydney Mook

[yesthatjallen]

Earlier this month, the North Dakota University system sent a message to students, staff and faculty reminding them about the issues that can arise with suspicious emails or phone calls.

That number equates to more than 15 million cyberattacks a month, up from 5 million a month in 2018.

But North Dakota isn’t alone, Riley noted.

“That’s part of a world trend,” he said. “We’re trending a little higher than certain organizations, but, yeah, pretty substantial increases overall.”

Comprehensive numbers are still being compiled for 2019, but in 2018, there were more than 300 million comprehensive attacks. Riley said his agency expects that number to be “considerably higher” for 2019.

But why the substantial increase? Riley said it’s due, in part, to expansion of technology in people’s everyday lives.

“We have everything from smart watches to smart toothbrushes all over the world,” Riley said. “It just creates a much bigger attack surface for systems to go after.”

Riley said attackers are getting smarter and the attackers’ tools, driven by artificial intelligence, are becoming easier to use.

SNIP

[xp38]

As long as you have internet and FR you’re never alone.

[Notthereyet]

**weather change**

Interesting!

My friend whose lived up in Minot has noticed the different crops being grown because of the weather change. She mentioned they’re trying grains now that they were not doing before.

I’ll ping her and ask about the new breeds of corn and ask her about the grains.....

We each seem to be acclimated to our own areas. She says she would be dying with our heat and I cheerfully admit I’d be curled up in front of a fireplace or heater all winter.

[Notthereyet]

Moving on to ND...

My friend seems really content up there.

Oh, besides the issue with the refugees they would like to get moved to another state...

Housing has gotten expensive. Really expensive.

I think though, that if someone were to build a new home it would be less costly than buying a house already build.

Not being a builder I wouldn’t know... :(

She sends me some of the loveliest pictures of the local fauna. Being here in West Texas, I can only look at the pictures and imagine their scents! LOL

[Notthereyet]

I forgot to ask, shelterguy-

Where in ND do you reside?

My friend is in Minot ND.

I get cold just looking at some of the pictures she sends me. LOL

[Fightin Whitey]

Eric Severeid, who was from there, wrote of North Dakota as a blank spot in the nation's consciousness.

Except during college hockey season.

[shelterguy]

I lived in Fargo. I live just next to Mnneapolistan now.

I’ve worked in the Minot area many times.

[Notthereyet]

“Mnneapolistan”

_______________________________

You know how she feels!!!

Thank you, for your patience with my questions and for letting me know about the new breeds of corn!

[Carborundum]

Well-—if you are thinking of going that far west, you might consider checking out South Dakota too. Better tax policy. They even have a medical school in Vermillion (in the southeast corner of the state). Overall, it maybe slightly warmer than North Dakota this time of year, but still a good bit colder than in New Dorp. Or even Tottenville.

[freefdny]

Why not Minot? Little Chicago during prohibition. Al Capone loved it because it was so close to Canada and perfect for smuggling booze. I was there for about ten days a few years ago during the summer and had a nice time. I did notice the outlets at the hotel parking spots so you could plug your car in during the winter so it would start in the morning. That tells you how cold it gets. I also loved the story of the reform judge who said he was going to shut down Capone and Little Chicago and stop all the alcohol smuggling. He had a sink in his courtroom where he made a big show of dumping all the confiscated booze. Only thing was it ran down a pipe to the basement where it was collected and served in the hotel across the street. That about sums up modern American politics for me.

[Balding_Eagle]

Is it nice? Hehe.

As I type this it is 3 below in Fargo ND, gusts to 5 mph.

Yeah, nice!

[Daffynition]

Sounds like northern Vermont....where you can still leave your doors unlocked and your car keys in the ignition. Shoot in your back yard and no one....I mean NO ONE cares what you do.

At -15*, the sunrise over Mt. Washington this morning was spectacular

[dp0622]

:)

[dp0622]

That was a unique idea :)