"Ransomware Attacks on Cities Are Rising – Authorities Must Stop Paying Out"
Twenty-three Texas cities were recently targeted in a coordinated ransomware attack, further highlighting the importance of improving efforts to bolster the cybersecurity of local governments and public services. A recent report from Malwarebytes highlights that cities have become an increasingly attractive target for ransomware attackers because they contain critical systems and a huge amount of sensitive data that can be held for large ransom payments. Cities' IT systems are also often found to lack system-wide security policies, up-to-date operating systems, and effective back-up strategies, which increases their vulnerability to ransomware attacks. As ransomware is usually distributed through phishing emails or malicious links, it is important that employees are trained to recognize phishing attacks and avoid clicking on suspicious links. This article continues to discuss the rise in ransomware attacks against cities, the tactics used by attackers to deliver ransomware, whether or not city authorities should pay ransoms, and how cities can be protected from such attacks.