Louisiana

Main article: United States

Skyscrapers

The number of skyscrapers (152 m and above) in the US states, 2019

History

2019

Emergency mode due to ransomware virus attack on government agencies

On December 15, 2019, the authorities of the city of New Orleans (state) Louisiana imposed a state of emergency due to mass cyber attacks hackers on state bodies. This was announced by the mayor of the city Latoya Cantrell in his official account on the social network. Twitter

According to the head of the city administration, the first suspicious activity in the municipal network was recorded at 5 am. By 8 o'clock, there was a surge in attacks that included phishing and extortion. At 11 o'clock, the attackers dealt the final blow and the American cities were under attack by a ransomware virus that infects the computer equipment of local services with a data encryption program.

The authorities of the city of New Orleans (Louisiana) imposed a state of emergency due to a massive cyber attack by hackers on state bodies

By December 18, 2019, no buyout claims had been received. According to preliminary data from Lata Cantrell, hackers failed to take possession of any confidential information.

To avoid being hit by the virus and blocking the entire city service network, the government shut down computers and servers from local departments. The city's "Real-Time Crime Center" had to be turned off, with public order cameras continuing to shoot. As a security measure, the city's IT department demanded that employees turn off personal gadgets and wait for further instructions from the authorities. Local residents were also advised not to use WI-FI. The work of ambulance, police and other emergency services continues as usual.

There is still little reliable information about this incident. By mid-December 2019, the incident is being investigated by specialists from the National Guard, and the USA FBI country's Secret Service. There are also no details on the progress of the investigation, which is being conducted both at the federal level and by state authorities. The recovery of the urban network is still ongoing.^[1]

Ransomware virus blocked IT systems and sites

On November 18, 2019, it became known about a new ransomware virus attack on Louisiana. Due to malware infection, government agencies were forced to disable some IT systems and websites, state Governor John Bel Edwards said on his Twitter blog.

We mobilized a state cybersecurity team in response to an attempted ransomware attack that affects some of the state's servers. The Office of Technology Services (OTS) has identified a cyber threat that has affected some but not all servers in the state, Edwards says. - The OTS immediately put in place security protocols and out of precaution shut down government servers, affecting email, websites and other online applications of many government agencies. The work of the services was interrupted not due to attacks by ransomware viruses, but due to the rapid response of OTS in order to prevent new server infections in the state.

It became known about a new attack of ransomware viruses on Louisiana

According to ZDNet, some of the affected facilities were associated with the Governor's Office, Louisiana State Legislature, Motor Vehicles Administration, Louisiana Department of Transportation, Department of Transportation and Development, etc.

After turning off IT systems, officials began using the Gmail mail platform until the state's mail server was restored. The damage from the actions of cybercriminals by November 18, 2019 is calculated. The situation is under control, authorities said.

Earlier, John Bel Edwards formed a cybersecurity commission to develop procedures and action plans to combat cyber attacks. The commission's first big real trial came in the summer of 2019, when ransomware viruses attacked three school districts in the state.^[2]

Introduction of a state of emergency after a ransomware virus attack on schools

In late July 2019, the Louisiana state government declared a state of emergency after multiple ransomware virus attacks on schools from the north of the state. Due to cyber attacks that began on July 23, 2019, data was blocked on school computer systems in three districts.

State officials, law enforcement and the FBI were involved in investigating the incidents. The type of ransomware viruses used in these cyberattacks has not been disclosed, however authorities see the attacks as "serious, deliberate acts to undermine cybersecurity," although most ransomware viruses are known to attack devices and systems erratically.

In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards imposes state of emergency over series of attacks on school districts in North Louisiana

Even more strangely, school staff in one of the training districts learned of the cyber attack at the sudden peak of bandwidth use at 4 a.m. on Sunday. This behavior is usually not typical for ransomware viruses and rather resembles an attack by Trojan viruses that can be designed to steal data or install new malware.

The emergency declaration involved redirecting state resources, including support from the Louisiana National Guard, Louisiana State Police, the Office of Technology Services and other units. Experts believe that by declaring a state of emergency, Louisiana showed how seriously it takes cyber attacks. In their opinion, other states should also follow a similar protocol in such circumstances.

This ransomware virus attack on government agencies is far from the first. Previously, malware penetrated the computer systems of municipal organizations in Atlanta in March 2018, Baltimore in May 2019 and two Florida cities in June 2019.^[3]

1939

The mother teaches children numbers and letters at home. Transylvania, Louisiana, United States. 1939.

1938

Snake eater at a rural fair in Louisiana, 1938

Notes