As ransomware continues to be a severe issue that is plaguing many across the cybersecurity landscape, a new update has just been released through the Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF) to address these growing threats.

National and international cybersecurity officials last week released recommendations and resources to help smart cities balance efficiency and innovation with cybersecurity, privacy protections, and national security.

In a public service announcement (PSA) issued Oct. 4., the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said they believe that “any attempts by cyber actors to compromise election infrastructure are unlikely to result in largescale disruptions or prevent voting.”

The nation’s second largest school district is still recovering from a ransomware attack that took place over a month ago. In an Oct. 2 update, Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Superintendent Albert Carvalho said the syndicate group responsible for the cyberattack has leaked the stolen data.

The Federal government’s Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF) kicked off its inaugural meeting with a discussion of new initiatives to collaborate with state, local, tribal, and territorial entities to protect against ransomware intrusions and disrupt malicious actors, according to a September 14 press release from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is still taking steps to recover from a ransomware attack on its IT systems last week.

The City of Lexington, Kentucky, Police Financial Crimes Unit is working with the local Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service offices to investigate the electronic theft of approximately $4 million in Federal rent assistance and transitional housing funds.

The FBI is warning institutions of higher learning that some VPNs and login credentials from their respective institutions have become compromised and are being sold on the dark web and public forums.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released a private industry notification (PIN) warning local governments and government services that ransomware will likely “strain” their capabilities if not prevented.

White House national security staff took the Biden administration’s strategic thinking on ransomware prevention to the local government mayors this week, as administration advisors continued to work through a long list of policy items aimed at curbing the attacks and making them less profitable.