Cybersafetyconnections March 18, 2024, vol #160 

  • From Konbriefing, Ahome City Council, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico website was hacked. 
  • Citizens and the city were affected. 
  • There was a suspected cyberattack and the cybercriminals were not yet known. 
  • Ahome City Council took steps to mitigate the loss from cyber-attack. 

What happened? 

5 Sure Signs You Have Been Hacked 

From Ahome.gob.mx it was reported that the Council website seems to have been hacked. 

Who were the affected parties? 

Hablando de mi Gente:Los Mochis 

From Jesús Lugo Castro, Director of Planning and Civic Technology, the public website was the only thing affected and nothing internal to the City Council and citizens were affected. 

What cybercriminal group were responsible? 

Cybercriminals 

Jesús Lugo Castro, Director of Planning and Civic Technology said his entire team was working to figure out the source of the cyberattack. Though it was suspected that this was a ransomware attack, no cybercriminals have reached out to demand ransom. 

How the City Council mitigated loss from cyberattack 

OWASP Threat and Safeguard Matrix 

Jesús Lugo Castro, Director of Planning and Civic Technology provided the following information as to actions taken to mitigate loss; 

  • Staff from the Ahome City Council were working diligently to restore the portal www.ahome.gob.mx/ which had to be taken down to find out what happened. 
  • It was hypothesized that the cyberattack may be a ransomware attack but the finding from investigations had not validated this theory. 

Now from the Newbie AI on the block, Copilot, here are steps to mitigate cyberattacks; 

Results from analysis of the article: 

Municipalities are increasingly at risk of cyberattacks, and the consequences can be severe. Here are some key points to consider for preventing cyberattacks on municipal governments: 

1.Ransomware Threats:  

Ransomware attacks are a significant concern. These attacks focus on quick financial gain by holding critical data hostage. If hackers gain access to a municipality’s network, they can disrupt essential services such as tax collection, road repairs, and payroll for city employees. Additionally, they might target personally identifiable information (PII) of taxpayers for individual payouts. 

2.Impact on Operations:  

Municipalities rely on processes to function smoothly. Disrupting these processes can have serious consequences. For instance, if a city cannot issue permits due to a cyberattack, it can slow down operations and impact services. 

Mitigating Measures: 

  • Digital Infrastructure Improvement: Use federal grant funds to enhance digital infrastructure. The American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provide grants for this purpose. 
  • Strengthen IT Departments: Invest in local government IT departments to proactively manage and secure systems. 
  • Compliance and Future Regulations: Stay informed about compliance laws and prepare for upcoming regulations. 

Results from Web:  

To prevent cyberattacks, municipalities should take proactive steps: 

  • Antivirus Solutions: Implement robust antivirus solutions to detect and prevent malware. 
  • Patch and Fix Systems: Regularly update and patch internal systems to address vulnerabilities. 
  • Managed IT Services: Consider managed IT and security services to maintain and manage systems effectively. 
  • Compliance Awareness: Stay informed about compliance laws and plan for future regulations. 

Conclusion 

Remember that prevention is crucial; waiting for an attack to occur is riskier than taking preventive measure 

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