The US National Security Council has clarified that the ransomware eruption centred on a Florida IT firm last month was never a threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure. The attacks on hundreds of businesses were centred on Florida IT firm Kaseya.
In a statement issued in this regard by the US National Security Council, Kaseya said its technology was typically used to help manage small businesses such as dentists’ offices, small accounting offices and local restaurants. “This attack was never a threat nor had any impact to critical infrastructure,” the statement said.
The hack that struck Kaseya’s clients may though have repercussions abroad far more serious. In Sweden, many of the 800 grocery stores run by the Coop chain are in the process of recovering from the attack. The process involves Coop’s payment provider physically visiting each store and restore the payment machines manually from backups.
In New Zealand, 11 schools and several kindergartens were affected. The hackers who claimed responsibility for the breach have demanded $70 million to restore all the affected businesses’ data, although they have indicated a willingness to temper their demands.
On Sunday the White House said it was checking to see whether there was any “national risk” posed by ransomware outbreak at the weekend.
