Published on: 07 03 Modified on: 22 06 Because they handle a lot of personal and sensitive data concerning their citizens and since the continuity of public service is a major issue for them, cyberattacks are targeting more and more local authorities. From major cities to small town councils, how can these threats be dealt with? Situational analysis. Some cybersecurity experts believe that the cyberattack on Baltimore City in the US in May represents a landmark event with regard to the cyberthreats facing local authorities.
The high ransom and remedial action costs, the media coverage and the volume of posts affected meant the case made a deep impression. And it seems to have caught on, as examples have since multiplied on a global scale. Ransomware attacks are becoming even more complex for victims. In September , cybercriminals posted 20 gigabytes of data stolen from the French metropolis of Aix-Provence-Marseilles. These included the names of officers and their personnel numbers, and two files with 23, email addresses associated with the names.
A leak of sensitive data that put the spotlight on a new form of intimidation, which consists in threatening to leak data in order to force the payment of a ransom. And the threat is global. In July , the administration of the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district in Germany was forced to bring its fax machines out of the cupboard after a cyberattack.
In Italy, the entire Lazio region was affected in August, when a ransomware attack paralysed the regional data centre, notably rendering the anti-Covid vaccination booking platform unavailable. In the United States, there are countless examples. From the Washington police department to the schools of Fairfax County , the trend seems to be well established and is even affecting prisons. In January , a prison in New Mexico was targeted by a cyberattack, disabling cameras and automatic doors. So why target them?
However, since they constitute a direct threat to the proper functioning of public services, cyberattacks on local authorities deserve attention.
