US Marshals Service attacked by ransomware targeting sensitive law enforcement information
Defense And Security,Hacking,Privacy,Cybersecurity
The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Tuesday it had been targeted by a ransomware attack over a week ago, compromising sensitive information including data on fugitives.
"The affected system contains law enforcement sensitive information, including returns from legal process, administrative information and personally identifiable information pertaining to subjects of USMS investigations, third parties and certain USMS employees," USMS spokesman Drew J. Wade announced in a statement.
He also said the USMS discovered the incident, described as "a ransomware and data exfiltration event affecting a stand-alone USMS system," on Feb. 17.
Wade said the USMS took the system off the network after the discovery as the Justice Department launched a forensic investigation.
Although the USMS operates the federal Witness Protection Program, a senior law enforcement official told The New York Times hackers did not breach that program's database.
