Cyber Attack

On January 31, 2017 a computer virus was discovered that caused the Licking County government to shut down their computers and phone systems. The cyber-attack was an attempt to extort money from the Licking County government by introducing a computer virus to the government computers, freezing the computer systems until a ransom was paid. The amount demanded was 28 bitcoins, valued at $34,579 as of March 13, 2017.

After the virus was discovered, the Licking County government shut down its computers and phone systems to “prevent the virus from spreading, protect data and preserve evidence.” The county government consulted with the Ohio EMA, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI to determine what steps to take following the attack and how to better defend against future criminal activity. Officials would later determine that the attack most likely came from a foreign country.

L.K.