Lansing’s public power electricity and water supply utility, the Lansing Board of Water & Light, is currently crippled by a RansomWare attack on its corporate computer network for the last two days. Press reports by the Lansing State Journal, WILX-TV and WLNS-TV indicate the attack started on the morning of the April 25.
While the electricity and water supply are still running in Lansing, MI, Lansing BWL personnel don’t have access to their corporate server computer files and their telephone system. The attack caused the BWL’s files on its corporate server to become encrypted and some criminal is apparently demanding money for the key to unlock the system.
BWL reports that customer data is not affected or compromised.
The FBI and Michigan State Police have been called in to investigate the attack.
Here are the press reports and video reporting this event:
www.wilx.com/…
Hackers who create Ransomware often demand payment in order to decrypt the files. Peffley wouldn't confirm early Tuesday afternoon if BWL will have to pay a ransom to hackers so all services can be restored safely. Amy Adamy, a BWL spokesperson, said Tuesday afternoon in a voicemail left for the LSJ that the utility could have a press conference Wednesday with more details about the cyberattack.
"We’re just trying to figure out what it will take to get our system decrypted," Peffley said. "We’re essentially locked out of our own system."
www.lansingstatejournal.com/…
The attack occurred while Lansing Mayor, Virg Bernaro, is on a travel on trade mission:
www.lansingstatejournal.com/...
wlns.com/...
Note...I’m off for a couple of hours and will respond to comments when I get back.