A global cybercrime group is claiming accountability for hacking the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Workplace and holding its tech system for ransom.
Hackers breached the workplace’s system about three weeks in the past, in keeping with a supply near the sheriff’s workplace, and Louisiana and New Orleans cybersecurity specialists have been within the metropolis making an attempt to resolve the issue.
The supply tells CBS Information the workplace and state are refusing to pay the ransom. There was no phrase on how a lot the group is demanding.
In a submit on the darkish internet obtained by the CBS Information Confirmed group the group, referred to as Qilin, says it carried out the ransomware assault.
Based on screenshots from the group’s submit, Qilin hackers have obtained contracts, inmate consumption paperwork and expense info. The knowledge posted to date does not seem like delicate, and the OSPO stresses that no jail safety operations have been impacted.
The CBS Information Confirmed group discovered the entire quantity of the alleged hack is 842 gigabytes — sufficient to carry 42,000 average-sized 20mb pdfs.
The sheriff’s workplace says the assault has affected its “DocketMaster” system, which manages inmate transfers to and from jail for courtroom appearances and manages inmate releases on bail.
One girl in New Orleans, who did not need her identify printed, advised CBS New Orleans affiliate WWL-TV she was annoyed after her husband wasn’t launched from jail final week although she paid his bond.
“I’ve two sons, 4 and 6 (years previous). They miss their dad,” she mentioned. “I did every thing on my finish to make sure that he comes dwelling, so I really feel like as soon as every thing is paid, every thing is completed, it should not be no maintain up.”
OPSO officers say they’re utilizing a guide workaround of the DocketMaster system outage.
“Out of an abundance of warning and to make sure continuity of service, OPSO has developed a short lived workaround,” a spokesperson wrote in a information launch Monday. “Anybody needing info usually accessed by DocketMaster ought to name Jail Communications at (504) 202-9386 for help.”
The supply near the sheriff’s workplace mentioned the assault stems from malware it acquired from one other legislation enforcement company by way of e mail.
The FBI warned of increasing malware attacks in March after a media firm was attacked similarly.
Based on a cybersecurity agency referred to as Recorded Future — cyberattacks exposing vulnerabilities are up 16% this year over last and the bulk contain malware. And an FBI report says about 5.5% of ransomware incidents in 2023 concerned authorities infrastructure.
