Cyberattacks Against State and Local Governments Surge

As we all know, the COVID-19 outbreak is spreading across the globe. The local governments around, are
scrambling to get all the resources in time such as cash, supplies, and individuals—to protect their
representatives, constituents, security, and health. However, unfortunately, the approaching threat of a
COVID-19 outbreak requires full focus from local governments, which implies they could be vulnerable
to another kind of disaster such as a cyber-attack.

Recent major cyber-attacks:

In March 2020, Durham City was misled by similar Russian ransomware, and even though Durham got
away from the assault without paying any payoff to re-establish its framework, around 80 servers should
now be remade, and more than 1,000 PCs will require re-imaging. Similarly, last year, another cyber-
attack took place in the city of the US where the same Russian hackers deployed a ransom attack. The
assailants sent a ransomware assault that influenced no less than 3,000 city-claimed PCs and servers and
left the city with more than $7 million under serious damage. As per city authorities, the assault could
have been considerably more serious and the expenses to reestablish the city's framework could have
been millions more if the city had not recognized the assailant's suspicious movement from the cyber-
attack.

Such major attacks elaborate on the consequences of a major cyber-attack which can result in severe
economic disaster. Both the attacks were especially inconvenient considering the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is about a 67% increase in cyber-attacks within the COVID-19 pandemic till now which is quite
devastating. Such attacks can disrupt the efforts being made and will impact government operations for
a long time.

What attracts most of the cyber-criminals?

According to the ‘Flipping the Economics of Attacks’ by Palo Alto Networks, 65% of hackers in the UK,
admitted that money was their main incentive. An average cyber-criminal earns no more than 20,000
pounds a year which is not that much but, this amount is way lower than anyone might think. A
professional hacker earns 4 to 5 times more than this.

However, most of their main targets revolve around damaging the economic sector and getting a
country’s data for the benefits of their rivals. In these ways, the damage an organization’s infrastructure
and mostly in earning profits from the rivals.

What is an easy target for them?

Cyber terrorism joins two critical present-day concerns: assaults utilizing technology in cyberspace.
While there is no single or comprehensively accepted meaning of cyber terrorism, in principle, it
comprises of a politically motivated group or non-state character utilizing digital strategies to scare,
constrain, or impact a crowd of people; forcing a political change, or on the other hand, cause fear or
physical damage. The healthcare sector is often affected the most as 75% of the cyber-attacks are in
such a sector because it comprises much more data and money for the hackers. They enter through the
medical devices which are considered an easy approach amongst the hackers. There is a cyber-attack
every 39 seconds across the globe according to studies.

Conclusion:
Before putting resources into protections, many organizations regularly need solid proof that they are,
or will be focused, by explicit dangers. unfortunately, on the internet, it is quite difficult to give an exact
evaluation of the dangers that associations face. However, each association is a potential victim. All
associations have something of significant worth that merits something to other people. If you
straightforwardly show weaknesses in your way to deal with digital security by neglecting to do the
basics, you will encounter some sort of digital attack.

References:
1. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/10-steps-to-cyber-security/introduction-to-cyber-
security/common-cyber-attacks-reducing-the-impact
2. https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/testimonies/CT400/CT490/RAND_
3. https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/blogs/what-motivates-cybercriminals/
4. http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/47/cyber-attack-prevention-for-the-home-user-how-
to-prevent-a-cyber-attack
5. https://www.cybintsolutions.com/cyber-security-facts-stats/
6. https://cyware.com/news/cyberattacks-against-state-and-local-governments-surge-9a5dd0ae