The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has been victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the criminal group Rhysida. The cyberattack has temporarily disrupted access to certain records, although law enforcement services remain unaffected.
According to a recent tweet from Luke Connolly the Criminal group Rhysida claims to have hacked the Sumter County Sheriff, FLA, and is demanding 7 BitCoins.
Quick Response to Cyber Threat
The Sheriff’s Office swiftly mitigated the attack’s impact by cutting off all access from the attackers. “Rest assured, the attack has not impacted our law enforcement service response,” a spokesperson for the agency stated.
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The office is currently collaborating with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Florida Digital Services, and other IT professionals to investigate the nature of the attack and secure their systems.
Limited Access to Records
Access to some records has been restricted while the investigation is ongoing. This limitation is part of the security measures taken to prevent further damage and ensure the investigation’s integrity.
The Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to other Sheriff’s Offices that have experienced similar incidents and have offered their assistance and expertise.
Ransom Demand and Website Outage
The Rhysida group has claimed responsibility for the attack and is demanding a ransom of 7 Bitcoins, approximately $425,000, to restore access.
As part of the attack, the official website of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is currently down, adding to the challenges faced by the agency.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional information at this time, but they are committed to resolving the situation with the help of cybersecurity experts.
The incident highlights the growing threat of ransomware attacks on public institutions and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and maintain public services.
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