Fulton County is back in the crosshairs of the notorious LockBit 3.0 cybercriminal group, which is now demanding another ransom with a new deadline, officials confirmed. Following the January cyberattack that crippled several government services, the group is threatening to leak sensitive data unless their demands are met by Thursday at 8:39 a.m., as confirmed by cybersecurity sources and reported by Atlanta News First.
Attempting to navigate the aftermath of the cyberattack, Fulton County officials indicated that while the personal data of citizens may be compromised, they are staging a response if the information goes public. "In anticipation of any potential leak of stolen data, we are collaborating with internal and external agencies to ensure individuals who may be affected by the release of any highly sensitive documents are provided resources and support," a county spokesperson Jessica Corbitt said, having told Atlanta News First.
The initial attack, which took place on Jan. 28, rendered many of Fulton County's government services inoperable. The dark web site associated with LockBit 3.0 was previously taken down by the FBI and its international collaborators following the passing of their first ransom deadline. Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts made a point that neither taxpayer money was used nor was the ransom paid, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The county has since poured resources into upgrading their internal software systems with a hefty $10 million plan in hopes to avoid future breaches.
Holding its breath, Fulton County is awaiting the results of an "extensive review process" led by cybersecurity experts to determine the severity of the data breach. If it turns out personal citizen data was involved, "we will make all legally required notifications and provide them with resources to help protect their personal information," as Jessica Corbitt explained in statements obtained by both Fox 5 Atlanta and Atlanta News First.
While Fulton County continues its investigation in close coordination with law enforcement, LockBit 3.0 boasts a fearsome reputation having attacked over 2,000 victims globally and reportedly collecting upwards of $120 million in ransoms. The pressure is mounting as the new deadline approaches, with the county putting its emphasis on safely restoring services and maintaining the citizens' safety as the utmost concern.
