DILWORTH — The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Clay County was the target of a ransomware attack in June, the agency disclosed Thursday, Sept. 17.
According to a release, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority detected and responded to a ransomware attack on its computer network on June 22. The agency then launched an investigation with help from third-party cybersecurity and data forensics consultants to determine the scope of the breach, the release said. Federal law enforcement was also notified.
Ransomware is malicious software that prevents users from accessing computer files, systems or networks and demands payment to restore access, according to the FBI.
Through the investigation, the HRA learned its network had been accessed without authorization between June 19-21. During that time, the alleged cybercriminal copied some data from the agency’s network, the release said. A thorough review was then conducted to determine what information was exposed, who was affected and where those people live. That review was completed Aug. 18, the release said, and the HRA began providing notice of the breach.
According to the notice,
published on the agency’s website
and mailed to impacted individuals, “the affected data included name, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number or state identification card number, passport number, immigration identification number, birth certificate, tribal identification card number, financial account number, health insurance identification number, medical or health information, and/or information related to services you or your family may have received from the HRA.”
The notice further detailed steps the agency has taken to strengthen its cybersecurity. It also advised those with questions to call
1-888-202-2693
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding major holidays, for more information.
The HRA encouraged potentially impacted individuals to regularly review account statements, explanations of benefits and free credit reports for unauthorized activity, the release said.
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