cyber crime

• News

Mystery of NSA leak lingers as case of Glen Burnie man who stole documents winds up

Later this month, about three years after a raid on his home, the case against Harold Martin is scheduled to be resolved in Baltimore's federal court.

• Maryland

Baltimore email archive still not accessible after cyber attack. What does that mean for records requests?

Baltimore's ransomware issue could hamper efforts by the public to hold the government accountable.

By Ian Duncan

Jul 5, 2019

• Maryland

As Florida cities use insurance to pay $1 million in ransoms to hackers, Baltimore and Maryland weigh getting covered

Baltimore is assessing whether to get a cyber insurance policy after suffering a devastating ransomware attack in May. Other cities say they're useful.

By Ian Duncan

Jul 5, 2019

• Opinion

The time to address ransomware is before an attack occurs

Cyber criminals are exploiting government lack of planning and technology that would allow it to avoid an attack or recover quickly.

• Politics

Baltimore officials rebuffed offers of state help for a 'week' after crippling hack of city computers

Baltimore refused help from Maryland information technology experts in the first week after the city’s computer networks were shut down by a ransomeware attack

• Opinion

Analog cops and digital robbers

It's time to modernize law enforcement so that instead of blaming the victims of cyberattacks, we can punish the perpetrators.

• Opinion

Feds owe Baltimore more than an explanation if NSA weapons were trained on the city's computers

The federal government should help cover the costs incurred by Baltimore and other cities if NSA-developed hacking tools were used in ransomware attacks.

• Maryland

'It is preferable for us to be safe': Baltimore ransomware recovery going slowly so defenses can be hardened

Baltimore officials are moving carefully to restore computer systems, wary of leaving themselves open to a fresh attack.

By Ian Duncan

May 23, 2019

• Politics

Analysis of ransomware used in Baltimore attack indicates hackers needed ‘unfettered access’ to city computers

The new strain of ransomware used to cripple Baltimore's computer networks relies on attackers gaining "unfettered access" to victims' networks.

• From the Community:

Top Anti-Phishing Security and Threat Protection Tips

In today's increasingly digitized corporate environment, the protection of an organization's confidential and sensitive information has become one of the biggest priorities for management. This is because information systems are now the most critical part of decision making and can have the vulnerabilities that an adversary can exploit to stall the business. Inhibiting cyber adversaries is necessary to safeguard critical information infrastructure of an enterprise. Cyber-criminals are using increasingly advanced and sophisticated methods of carrying out the attacks which have necessitated all enterprises to look for solutions and anti-phishing security controls to safeguard the organization's information assets. Understanding Anti-Phishing Security ...

• From the Community:

The Most Important Tips to Secure Your Small Office Network.

Many small business owners assume that their business is not large enough to be the target of hackers. Unfortunately, this is not true. No business is immune from cyber attacks. Even individuals get hacked on a daily basis. While big corporations often receive hacking attempts, hackers are now targeting small business owners because of their lax attitude towards the security of their network. According to General Small Business Cyber Security Statistics , 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses. This is a significant increase from a mere 18% in 2011. The problem here is that the outcome of ...

• Hospitals and Clinics

University of Maryland Medical System investigating malware attack

The University of Maryland Medical System is investigating a malware attack on its network that occurred Sunday.

By Sarah Meehan

Dec 10, 2018

• News

2 Iranian hackers charged in ransomware scheme that targeted Maryland's MedStar Health

The Justice Department says two Iranian computer hackers have been charged in connection with multimillion-dollar cybercrime and extortion scheme that targeted

• Maryland

Harford Sheriff's Office names new commanders for Drug Task Force, criminal investigations

Harford County Sheriff's Office Captain Lee Dunbar, left, has been named commander of the Criminal Investigations Division and Captain Michael Crabbs will be replacing Dunbar as commander of the Narcotics Task Force.

By Erika Butler

Aug 2, 2018

• Cyber Crime

'Nerd-speak' and thwarting hacks: Top youth cyber-security competition comes to Baltimore

The Loyola Blakefield team — the only Maryland school to make it to the final round of the national CyberPatriot contest — spent hours in quiet concentration, trying to earn points by defeating hackers and securing the computer servers of a fictional company.

By Talia Richman

Apr 18, 2018

• Maryland

For Baltimore, other cities facing hacks, list of risks is 'as long as your twisted imagination'

It's difficult for cities like Baltimore to manage cybersecurity risks. And it's only going to get tougher.

• News

Hack of Baltimore's 911 dispatch system was ransomware attack, city officials say

The attack on Baltimore’s 911 dispatch system over the weekend was a ransomware attack, city officials said on Wednesday. 

By Kevin Rector

Mar 28, 2018

• News

Baltimore 911 dispatch system hacked, investigation underway, officials confirm

Baltimore’s 911 dispatch system was hacked by an unknown actor or actors over the weekend, prompting a temporary shutdown of automated dispatching and an ongoing investigation into the breach, Mayor Catherine Pugh’s office confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday.

By Kevin Rector

Mar 27, 2018

• Baltimore County

iCyberCenter to help startups get a foothold in Maryland

iCyberCenter at bwtech looks to expand outreach to help companies grow

By Libby Solomon

Oct 16, 2017

• Maryland

Batavick: Internet has brought unfortunate consequences to politics

Batavick: Internet has brought unfortunate consequences to politics

• Opinion

Witcover: Twin towers of infamy

The 9/11 attacks and the Russian meddling in the last presidential election constitute twin towers of infamy, grave and intolerable attacks against this country and what it stands for.

• Howard County

When website hacking hits home [Editorial]

If hackers can get in the front door of a basic government website like Howard's, it's conceivable they can go deeper inside other government and private systems that control traffic lights, telecommunications, utility plants, financial records and more.

• Politics

Maryland elections board says it detected 'suspicious activity' last fall

Maryland's State Board of Elections detected "suspicious activity" on the computer system it uses for online voter registration before last fall's election and called in cybersecurity experts to evaluate it, administrator Linda Lamone said Wednesday.

By Michael Dresser

Jun 14, 2017

• Business

Target agrees to pay $18.5 million to prevent future data breaches

BALTIMORE, MD (May 23, 2017) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced that he, together with the Attorneys General of 46 other states and the

By Lorraine Mirabella

May 23, 2017

• Opinion

An 'integrity' commission that lacks it

Presidential commission on 'election integrity' appears to lack that very quality

• Crime

DC police camera network hit with cyberattack

WASHINGTON (AP) — Devices that record data from police surveillance cameras in Washington D.C. were infected in a cyberattack days before President

• News

Intelligence officials: U.S. needs to rethink how to respond to hacks

Ahead of the release next week of a report into Russian interference in the presidential election, top American intelligence officials said Thursday that the government needs to rethink how it responds to the hacking efforts of foreign governments.

By Ian Duncan

Jan 5, 2017

• Maryland

Statement by President Obama on U.S. response to Russian hacking

Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government’s aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S.

• Opinion

Roughly Speaking podcast: Who was really behind the presidential campaign hacks? (episode 187)

Perspective on the Yahoo cyber breach and the Russian hacking of the presidential campaign from Sean Gallagher, Baltimore-based IT editor of Ars Technica.

By Dan Rodricks

Dec 15, 2016

• Business

US internet repeatedly disrupted by cyberattacks on key firm

A massive cyberattack barred East Coast users from visiting Twitter, SoundCloud and other sites Friday morning by targeting a firm responsible for routing w

• Crime

Department of Homeland Security asks businesses to share cyberattack information, finds only one that's willing

A law championed by Rep. C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger to get businesses and the government to share information about computer security threats has had limited impact so far because companies are reluctant to hand over data to the government, officials and corporate executives said Thursday.

By Ian Duncan

Sep 8, 2016

• Politics

FBI warns state elections officials about hacking attempts

The FBI warned state elections officials around the country this month to be on their guard against hackers after a breach of voters' personal information in Illinois and an attempt in Arizona.

• Features

This Week in Black Twitter: Standing up for Leslie Jones, feelings on Young Thug's album art

This week: Leslie Jones continues to be harassed online in form of a cyberattack on her website and rapper Young Thug wears a dress for album cover art.

By Meghan Pryce

Aug 26, 2016

• Business

House GOP seeks focus on small cyber firms

House lawmakers are expected to pass legislation this week to encourage the Obama administration to engage more with small, startup cyber security firms, an effort supporters say could benefit Maryland's burgeoning cyber industry.

By John Fritze

Jun 20, 2016

• Maryland

Maryland National Guard steps up role in cyberspace

A cyberwar exercise in Estonia comes as the Marlyand National Guard is expanding its ability to fight on computer networks, ramping up new units, planning a pair of major building projects and figuring out how to work with other agencies in the state in the face of a hack.

By Ian Duncan

Apr 17, 2016

• Health

MedStar disputes report it ignored warnings that led to attack

MedStar Health is disputing a report by the Associated Press that the hospital company knew as early as 2007 about weaknesses in its system, which led to a massive cyber attack that encrypted its files.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Apr 6, 2016

• Health

MedStar hack shows risks that come with electronic health records

For all the enthusiasm about adopting electronic medical records, security remains a worry.

• Health

Hackers offering bulk discount to unlock encrypted MedStar data

The hackers who locked up data on MedStar's computers this week are demanding ransom to begin unlocking it — and they're offering a bulk discount to release all of it, according to a copy of the demands obtained by the Baltimore Sun.

• Health

FBI investigating cyber attack at MedStar Health

The FBI is helping with the investigation of a major computer outage at MedStar Health, but the agency was unable to provide specifics about the problem.

• Maryland

Cyber campaign against Islamic State marks beginning of a new secret war

After a decade of classified commando raids and drone strikes, the official reluctance to talk about the cyber campaign against the self-declared Islamic State means the country is again heading into a new field of warfare with only limited public debate.

By Ian Duncan

Mar 6, 2016

• Maryland

Pentagon unleashes Fort Meade cyberwarriors on Islamic State

The Defense Department has called on military hackers at Fort Meade to disrupt the operations of the self-declared Islamic State, adding cyber weapons to the bombs and missiles the United States has been using to batter the terror group.

By Ian Duncan

Mar 1, 2016

• Maryland

NSA reorganization to combine offense, defense

The National Security Agency is about to launch its most ambitious reorganization in years, bringing together teams charged with gathering intelligence around the world with those tasked with defending U.S. secrets.

By Ian Duncan

Feb 7, 2016

• Maryland

Editorial: Talk to children about online dangers

When it comes to protecting children from cyber bullying or computer crimes, the best thing we can do is educate them about the dangers online.

• Cyber Crime

Firm sees growing market for building shields

Electronic devices such as printers, cell phones and computers all leak signals — not just wi-fi but other tell-tale emissions — that hackers can use to access corporate networks or gain information about company operations. Owings Mills-based Signals Defense sells window films and wall liners to reduce those emissions to both the government and private companies.

By Natalie Sherman

Dec 21, 2015

• Opinion

Failure to protect U.S. special operations forces data is inexcusable

How could the U.S. allow sensitive information about special operations forces to be hacked, asks Rachel Marsden.

• Maryland

As more devices go online, hackers hunt for vulnerabilities

A growing number of devices, from security cameras to cars to weapon systems, are designed to connect to computer networks — the so-called "Internet of things." But as researchers find ways to compromise the machines, regulators, lawmakers and military leaders are scrambling safeguard them from hacking.

By Ian Duncan

Oct 24, 2015

• Politics

Lawmakers push for tougher U.S. stance in cyberspace

As Sen. Angus King pressed national security officials to open up about their ability to wage war over the Internet, he turned not to some think tank white paper to make his point, but a 5-decade-old film about the dangers of nuclear brinkmanship.

By Ian Duncan

Oct 3, 2015

• Business

After cyberattack, CareFirst faces class action suit

Two CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield customers have filed a proposed class action suit against the Maryland health insurer, after a cyberattack that exposed about 1.1 million current and former members' personal information.

By Natalie Sherman

Aug 14, 2015

• Opinion

Chips aren't enough to secure credit cards

Traditional credit and debit cards account for two-thirds of all transactions in the United States, and yet we have arguably the least secure verification process in the world. Of the 19 members of the G20, the United States is the only country that has not upgraded its payment card technology to what is known as "chip and PIN." Instead of our current swipe and signature model, most international cards feature an embedded microchip and require a unique code to be entered upon each point of sale

• Opinion

Internet universe contains both marvels and monsters

Like gods, we have created a new universe called cyberspace that contains great good and ominous evil. We do not know, yet, if this new dimension will produce more monsters than marvels, but it is too late to go back.