Tag Archive for: agency’s

Ransomware attack hits Indianapolis Housing Agency’s Section 8 system


The Indianapolis Housing Agency, the federal agency responsible for providing housing to low-income tenants in the city, has been battling a cyber-attack for the past three weeks that’s compromised their entire information technology system.

The agency has not released details about the motive or identity of the individuals behind the ransomware attack, which is a type of malicious software often unknowingly downloaded onto computers through methods such as innocuous email attachments. The software prevents users from accessing computer files and systems. It can result in massive disruptions and loss of information.

As the name suggests, ransomware attacks can involve demands for ransom payments in exchange for the system being restored.

Ransomware:What to do if you are hit by an attack

The ransomware attack delayed the Indianapolis Housing Agency’s ability to send out October rent payments to landlords for the federal housing choice voucher program, also known as Section 8, which 8,000 Indianapolis families depend on. Section 8 provides rental assistance to very low-income families, the elderly, and disabled individuals for housing on the private market, and the agency administers the program for Indianapolis.

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Concern mounts over government cyber agency’s struggle to respond to hack fallout


With Microsoft acknowledging for the first time this past week that suspected Russian hackers behind a massive government security breach also gained access to its source code, pressure is mounting on US officials and cybersecurity experts to explain how the attackers infiltrated various US computer networks, what they did once inside and the steps that are being taken to mitigate the damage.

As US officials struggle with the fallout, questions are swirling about whether the agency tasked with protecting the nation from cyberattacks is up to the job.

On Wednesday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, (CISA) signaled it’s still working to patch the known vulnerabilities, advising agencies to update their software from SolarWinds, a private contractor attackers exploited to gain access into potentially thousands of public and private sector organizations.

Congressional Democrats and the Biden transition team are demanding more information about the massive hacking campaign, calling on the Trump administration to address concerns about its handling of the fallout and perceived lack of transparency in the weeks since the data breach was first discovered.

The Biden team in particular has stated that it’s been stonewalled by Trump officials in its effort to learn more about key national security issues, including the hack.

Trump administration officials say those accusations are exaggerated but have also acknowledged they are wary of any transition activity that could provide the Biden team a head start in dismantling the President’s priorities.

To date, the White House has offered few public details about what is believed to be the most significant cyber operation targeting the US in years. The lack of…

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China blasts CIA after WikiLeaks reveals extent of agency’s hacking abilities – Washington Times


Washington Times

China blasts CIA after WikiLeaks reveals extent of agency's hacking abilities
Washington Times
Cybersecurity proved to a contentious issue under former President Barack Obama's administration with respect to his relationship with China. The Justice Department charged five members of the Chinese military with cyber espionage in 2014, and Chinese …

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Hackers hit cyber security agency’s site – Times of India


Zee News

Hackers hit cyber security agency's site
Times of India
Operational since 2004, CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur. The website () was still down till reports last came in. "We aren't harming the websites or changing their content.
CERT-In handled over 13000 cyber security incidents in 2011Zee News

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