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For nearly three weeks, Baltimore has struggled with a cyberattack by digital extortionists that has frozen thousands of computers, shut down email and disrupted real estate sales, water bills, health alerts and many other services.
But here is what frustrated city employees and residents do not know: A key component of the malware that cybercriminals used in the attack was developed at taxpayer expense a short drive down the Baltimore-Washington Parkway at the National Security Agency, according to security experts briefed on the case.
Since 2017, when the N.S.A. lost control of the tool, EternalBlue, it has been picked up by state hackers in North Korea, Russia and, more recently, China, to cut a path of destruction around the world, leaving billions of dollars in damage. But over the past year, the cyberweapon has boomeranged back and is now showing up in the N.S.A.’s own backyard.
It is not just in Baltimore. Security experts say EternalBlue attacks have reached a high, and cybercriminals are zeroing in on vulnerable American towns and cities, from Pennsylvania to Texas, paralyzing local governments and driving up costs.
The N.S.A. connection to the attacks on American cities has not been previously reported, in part because the agency has refused to discuss or even acknowledge the loss of its cyberweapon, dumped online in April 2017 by a still-unidentified group calling itself the Shadow Brokers. Years later, the agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation still do not know whether the Shadow Brokers are foreign spies or disgruntled insiders.
Thomas Rid, a cybersecurity expert at Johns Hopkins University, called the Shadow Brokers episode “the most destructive and costly N.S.A. breach in history,” more damaging than the better-known leak in 2013 from Edward Snowden, the former N.S.A. contractor.
“The government has refused to take responsibility, or even to answer the most basic questions,” Mr. Rid said. “Congressional oversight appears to be failing. The American people deserve an answer.”
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 28 2019, @03:50PM (3 children)
Is cyber warfare considered an act of war?
Some financial institutions have small print in their TOS that losses from an act of war are not covered by the FDIC. North Korea could drain everyones bank accounts and the banks could say "Too bad, it's an act of war"
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday May 28 2019, @07:05PM (1 child)
If Kim Jong Un drained everyone's bank accounts, it would not be called an act of war, it would be called an act of god.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Tuesday May 28 2019, @07:16PM
it would be called an act of god.
Which usually isn't covered either
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 29 2019, @03:44AM
your security walrus says yes [politico.com]
Not everyone agree