NPR

As Atlanta Seeks To Restore Services, Ransomware Attacks Are On The Rise

The FBI says the practice of locking computer systems in exchange for money has become increasingly common, and that cities, schools and hospitals are especially vulnerable to hackers.
Ransomware attacks against cities, schools and hospitals have been on the rise, officials say.

Atlanta city officials are not saying whether they were strong-armed into paying the $51,000 ransom to hackers holding many of the municipality's online services hostage, but they did announce progress in restoring networks on Thursday.

Police officers are once again able to file reports electronically and some investigative databases thought to have been corrupted by the ransomware attack have turned out to be unscathed, the city says. The city's 311 system — which deals with things such as trash pick-up and reporting of potholes — is also back in operation.

As a precaution, however, law enforcement is still not using some of its databases and the city's water department can't take any form of payment. Plus, the municipal court continues to push off its caseload, indefinitely.

Atlanta is just the latest target

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