Ransomware Attack Derails School Activities at Columbia Falls School District

Law enforcement of late managed identifying the origin of latest online attacks as certain hackers' group from abroad which's trying towards extorting money from people of a locality.

In a statement that Chuck Curry, Sheriff of Flathead County released on September 18, there are the latest particulars given about the attack's investigation along with the ransom letter spanning 7 pages. On September 18, hackers sent the long ransom note over e-mail to Columbia Falls School's board members along with the superintendent.

According to Curry, the hackers' group specified inside the ransom note is TheDarkOverlord Solutions. It has connections with prominent hacking attacks, especially one against Netflix.

From September 14 to September 18, extracurricular activities along with main classes for the pupils numbering 15,700 at Columbia Falls School District had to be annulled. As per recommendation by officials, the schools should get back to their normal routines starting September 19 because the officials believed residents were secured although perpetrators of the attacks during the past had often not done as per their promises towards refraining from leaking stolen information despite victims making the ransom payments. Gizmodo.com posted this online dated September 19, 2017.

There was sufficient reason for parents of Columbia Falls' students to worry following the hacking incident into a PC of the school network with the contact details stolen utilized for launching graphic threats during the week of September 11 through e-mails and text messages at first to law-enforcement along with school authorities followed with to the parents.

Through one Facebook post, Chuck Curry stated that the ransom letter suggested attackers were just seeking money with the apparent promise of not exposing online the info they stole from the computer system of the school district. They outline 3 different ways of making the payment: immediately paying $75,000 worth BTC, paying $100,000 worth BTC should an anonymous individual write a 5-page essay with embarrassing content, alternatively paying $150,000 worth BTC within monthly installments spanning 12 months.

And though the attacks might ultimately result to nothing, teachers as well as parents continue left with explaining innumerable children whatever has been happening.

» SPAMfighter News - 9/28/2017