Cyber attacks are becoming very popular headlines both nationally and statewide as of late.
In fact, one of the more local publicized attacks occurred back in October when cybercriminals hacked the state’s Office of Judicial Administration’s information systems. The attack led to several systems going offline including attorney registrations, appellate case inquiries, the central payment center and the online public access portal.
Work is still underway to restore all of those systems with full restoration not expected until sometime next month at the earliest. While large governmental entities have been a popular target for foreign cyberattacks criminals are not limiting their focus to just the federal and state levels.
According to Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking on a recent installment of KVOE’s Q&A With Trey, the city of Pittsburg was recently the victim of such an attack. While Emporia has yet to see any such attack on its systems, Cocking says it is a concern that is at the forefront of their minds.
Cocking adds that cybercriminals, especially those who attack major governing entities, are a much different breed than your traditional scammer. Rather than trying to simply grab cash with a quick scheme, Cocking says these cyber criminals prefer to play the “long game.”
Cocking adds that while technology, specifically systems and protocols for cyber security, is advancing rapidly so to are the individuals looking to get around it. When it comes to helping keep themselves safe, Cocking advises residents to make sure all of their information including emails, passwords and other sensitive data are kept secure and confidential.
He adds, that if someone attempts to make contact through email or other forms of digital messaging it is important to verify that individual’s identity before engaging in any form of business or discussion. Additionally, Cocking says individuals requesting money and putting a time clock on the payment is often a “dead giveaway” that something is not as it seems.
If you would like more information on cybercrime and security, we have attached a link to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s cybercrime web page below.
