Priya PatelTLDR:
- Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther wants a national strategy to combat cyber and ransomware attacks.
- New Zealand-based cyber security company, Emsisoft, tracked 286 ransomware attacks worldwide and recommends stopping ransom payments.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther is calling for a national cybersecurity plan to address the rising number of cyber and ransomware attacks targeting cities in the United States. According to data from Emsisoft, a New Zealand-based cyber security company, Columbus was among 50 cities targeted by ransomware attacks this year, following 95 cities that were hit last year. Analyst Luke Connolly from Emsisoft tracks criminal gangs responsible for these attacks, identifying 260,000 stolen files from Columbus on the dark web. He highlighted the organizational structure of these criminal enterprises, with managers, departments, and affiliates recruited to carry out attacks. Connolly emphasized the need for increased investments in technical cyber protection and employee education, as well as the importance of stopping ransom payments to deter attackers. Mayor Ginther announced an agenda for a national cybersecurity plan, while Emsisoft urges ransomware victims to refrain from meeting ransom demands for more effective prevention. The ransomware attack on Columbus was attributed to the group Rhysida, which has been under FBI alert since 2023 and listed 120 victims on the dark web. Ginther provided an update on the case, encouraging affected individuals to sign up for two years of free credit monitoring funded by the city.
