On Friday, Oakland officials confirmed the city was the victim of a ransomware attack that began Wednesday night. The city's information technology department is currently working with law enforcement to determine the scope and severity of the attack.

The attack is a form of ransomware, a type of cybercrime where an attacker encrypts files and then demands a ransom to decrypt them. The encryption makes the files and the systems that rely on them unusable. City officials did not release the ransom amount the attackers are asking for.

Fortunately, the attack did not affect Oakland residents' ability to call 911 or the city's financial data or fire resources. The public can still file crime reports on the city's website. City officials are developing a plan to respond to the attack.

How to Protect Your Business From Ransomware Attacks

I spoke to Chris Close, a cyber security expert from Cyber Sleuth Security Trenton, to discuss the importance of protecting businesses from ransomware attacks.

“Ransomware is a type of malicious software that can lock up a user’s system or files, preventing access to them until a ransom is paid,” Chris said. He went on to explain that ransomware attacks can have devastating consequences for businesses, as they can result in the loss of important data, financial losses, and reputation damage.

Chris emphasized the importance of having good security measures in place to protect businesses from ransomware attacks. He explained that businesses should use a combination of technology, training, and policies to ensure that their systems are secure and able to detect and respond to ransomware threats.

Chris also highlighted the need for businesses to have a comprehensive plan in place in the event of a ransomware attack. He explained that having a plan in place would help businesses to respond quickly and effectively to a ransomware attack, and would help them to minimize damage and recover quickly.

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Ransomware attack hits Oakland