Bitcoin ransom virus infected Atlanta network, demands thousands of BTC

Many computers in the American city of Atlanta have recently been infected with a Bitcoin ransom virus. The message left by hackers demands 51,000 BTC in exchange for unblock. The situation becomes even more alerting for the government because the networks of some local departments are affected.

The digital services connected with court decisions and bill payment records have been disabled as a result, and the fact that the government work has been disrupted undoubtedly accelerates the efforts of the FBI, the Secret Service and of the Department of Homeland Security to find who was behind this criminal endeavor.

Observers have previously noted (for example, in Bitnewstoday’s article on the theme) that ransomware viruses often do not unblock the system even if the corresponding payment has been conducted. This whole event might make the local councils and departments reconsider its cybersecurity budget.

Some hackers recently switched from the regular users to governmental computers, experts connect this to the dawn of the new pro-government type of criminals. A government of some country might have backed this particular group as well.

Image courtesy of Sean Pavone