After a vicious ransomware attack, the Licking County websites, phones,\u00a0computers and\u00a0county’s network have been taken offline.\u00a0 The systems are projected to remain offline until the end of this week.\u00a0 The problem was discovered Tuesday evening, and critical systems were immediately taken offline.\u00a0 The specific ransomware variant is not being disclosed, nor is the payment demand.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Tim Bubb made the following statement to The Columbus Dispatch<\/a> regarding paying the ransom,<\/p>\n “It’s not an insignificant amount of money.\u00a0 Officials will consult with the cyber insurance company to determine whether the county would pay the ransom.\u00a0 Obviously we have to concur, but generally speaking, they deal with this all the time, so we’re going to be very thoughtful about whatever they recommend.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Bubb also reported that technicians are currently working on restoring the systems with back ups.\u00a0 The plan is for these individuals to work all day, every day, until the problem is fixed.<\/p>\n It is our most sincere hope, they do not pay these cyber criminals.\u00a0 Paying the ransom does not guarantee they will send the decryption keys.\u00a0 It also places a target on your back, because you paid once–you’ll likely pay again.\u00a0 Lastly, it only positively reinforces their criminal behaviors.<\/p>\n To see a full list of ransomware attacks that have taken place in 2017, you can click here<\/a>.\u00a0 We have also created a ransomware map, see below, of the ransomware attacks that have taken place in the U.S.Ransomware Attacks<\/h4>\n
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