Recently, we reported about the ransomware attack on the town of Muscatine, a city in Iowa. Authorities have still not been able to find the exact attack vector through which the ransomware managed to enter and initiate its nefarious objectives.
In order to tackle the situation, officials have to go back to the pen-and-paper method. This means that the servers and IT systems of the city had to be shut down for ransomware removal and recovery processes.
The sudden switch to paper was a moment to reflect on for many. One of them was Kevin Jenison—Muscatine Communication Manager. Jenison was shocked about human dependence and reliance on digital devices. However, Jenison heaved a sigh of relief; he revealed that the services of police, fire, and public departments have not been disrupted. This means that since the attack, these departments have been providing complete services to the public.
Jenison’s satisfaction is not unfounded. Going by this year’s ransomware attacks, not every city was lucky. For instance, when Baltimore was attacked earlier in 2018, its 911 emergency dispatch system was in tatters. As a consequence, the system remained unavailable for almost a day (17 hours to be exact).
The latest ransomware attack on Muscatine has left many to ponder over how easily a single attack can change everything. Jenison explained that over time people tend to get negligent and lazy with their cyber defense. Likewise, there is too much trust on the anti-malware tools for quick ransomware removal. However, he believes that companies are erring by underestimating hackers who catch up to anti-malware tools by continuously updating their viruses.
According to Jenson, the attack humbled its staff and served as an excellent lesson. It educated the staff and gave them a wide range of knowledge
