A popular downtown Portland movie theater has temporarily shut its doors in the wake of a devastating cyberattack that has rendered critical computer systems "unusable," said Living Room Theaters CEO Steve Herring. The theater, nestled at the intersection of Southwest 10th Ave. and Southwest Harvey Milk St., has become another victim in a surging wave of digital assaults costing billions in losses. In a social media message to patrons, Herring voiced the disruption, "cruelly and randomly" striking the indie venue, according to a statement obtained by OregonLive.
Federal involvement has cast a broader light on the severity of cyber threats plaguing the country. Although officially unconfirmed by the agency, the FBI is reportedly connected to the investigation of the theater's cyber woes, with losses across the country from internet crimes reaching $16 billion last year, as stated in its Internet Crime Report, a figure inflated by 33% from the previous year, as noted by KOIN 6 News. Enhancements in AI technology seem to empower hackers, with a recent wave linked to Chinese state-sponsored entities, yet the culprits of this particular incident remain unidentified.
The closure impacts not only the business but the community it serves, offering intimate seating experiences and an eclectic film selection. One customer, Erick Lizama, lamented the ill-timed shutdown, "It's a terrible time to shut down a movie theater and people are not working or out of jobs," he articulated in an interview with KOIN 6 News. Despite facing this setback, he expressed a steadfast intention to return to the independent theater upon its revival.
Alongside the alert to customers, Herring has expressed gratitude for the support during the crisis. "Thank you all so much for your gracious patience and support while we work through this very difficult time," he told the community in a statement relayed by KPTV. Behind the scenes, Living Room Theaters is actively consulting with cybersecurity officials to mend the digital injuries inflicted, collaborating with the Portland field office of the FBI to unravel the thread of this attack that has temporarily dimmed the screen on this cherished local establishment.
