"Public Safety Organizations are Unprepared for Cyberattacks"

Cyberattacks on public safety organizations have become common. However, according to a recent Verizon survey of these organizations, only a few believe they are "very prepared" for cyberattacks. This study overlaps with Resecurity research citing an increase in malicious activity targeting law enforcement organizations during the second quarter of 2022. Any incident has the potential to affect the welfare and public safety of different communities. It remains a challenge to determine how to strengthen security while working with limited public funds. According to the Verizon survey, less than half of respondents say their organization is at least partially prepared for a cyberattack. Just 15 percent feel "very prepared" overall. Law enforcement agencies appear to be more confident in their security. In case of a cyberattack, 58 percent of police departments believe they are somewhat prepared, while 20 percent believe they are very prepared. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) departments had the lowest sentiment, with only 12 percent feeling very prepared. Resecurity researchers revealed that malicious actors were hacking law enforcement email accounts in the second quarter of 2022. A recent trend among hackers is issuing fake subpoenas and Emergency Data Requests (EDRs) to organizations in order to steal sensitive information. In May 2022, a large New York EMS provider faced a ransomware attack that exposed the personal information of over 300,000 patients. The cybercriminals behind the incident stole files and encrypted systems before threatening to disclose the information unless a ransom was paid. Fire services are also susceptible to cyberattacks, as threat actors allegedly stole department paychecks from a South Carolina fire department in September 2022. This article continues to discuss public safety organizations being unprepared for cyberattacks and examples of incidents faced by such organizations.

Security Intelligence reports "Public Safety Organizations are Unprepared for Cyberattacks"