Recent Cyber Attacks Threaten Hudson Valley, New York Infrastructure

On Friday, July 19th, Microsoft experienced a global outage. Banks, airlines, television networks and health systems around the world that rely on Microsoft 365 apps were hit by widespread outages early Friday. Thousands of flights and train services were canceled globally, including more than 1,000 in the U.S., and there were disruptions to many other public and retail services.

The issue was caused by a technical problem that global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said it had identified in its software and was working to resolve. CrowdStrike provides antivirus software to Microsoft for its Windows devices.

Hudson Valley Cyber Glitches and Attacks in Recent Months

The Hudson Valley has fallen victim to a slew of cyber attacks in recent months, compromising important information from both local organizations and individuals. Cyberattack complaints in New York state increased 53% between 2016 and 2022, jumping from 16,426 incidents in 2016 to 25,112 in 2022, according to the FBI. The number of attacks targeting critical infrastructure in New York state nearly doubled to 83 in the first half of 2023 compared to 48 during the entirety of 2022 according to a report released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

October 2023 - New York State Casinos and Hospitals Effected by Cyber Attacks

New York state’s casino operation and two hospitals were hit with cyber attacks back in October of 2023, officials said. The state Gaming Commission confirmed that its central operating system serving the state’s slot parlors was impacted by a cybersecurity attack — forcing the closure of Jake 58 casino in Islandia, Suffolk County, for several days.

HealthAlliance Hospital and Margaretville Hospital in the Hudson Valley were forced to divert patients elsewhere following cybersecurity incidents. The cyber hack also impacted the Mountainside nursing home. Due to the breach, hackers had access to medical records, addresses, Social Security numbers, financial information and other data from patients for nearly two months.

June 2024 - City of Newburgh Faced with "Cybersecurity Incident"

A cybersecurity incident occurred last month on Tuesday, June 12th temporarily disrupted some government services in the city of Newburgh. The city said it has retained outside internet technology experts and other professionals who are working around the clock to fully restore operations.

During the time around the incident, the city was unable to accept payments for property taxes; water, sewer and sanitation services; permit fees; and parking tickets. Due to the cybersecurity incident, services at City Hall and at city offices at 123 Grand St. will be closed to the public until further notice. There was no disruption to city police and fire emergency lines, and calls to 911 are fully functional.

July 2024 - Goshen Schools the Target of Latest Cyber Attack

The Superintendant of Goshen Central School District, Dr. Kurtis Kotes, released a statement on Thursday, July 11th announcing that the district had experienced a cyber-attack the day prior on Wednesday, July 10th.

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The cyber attack at Goshen Central School District is being labeled as a ransomware attack. Dr. Kotes explained in his statement that the attack has resulted in the disablement of all district computers and access to school-related accounts like emails and phone inboxes. While the attack was launched against the school on Wednesday, the district remains unable to access these accounts and use district computers.

Can Modern Security Technology Keep Up w/ Today's Cyber Threats?

This goes hand-in-hand with a discussion I had a few months ago with Paul Hacker, a Professional Liability Broker at Axis Insurance Services. When asked if modern technology can keep up with today's threats such as new technology attacking older systems, more educated hackers taking over the landscape, and the rise of AI, Paul said,

We are behind. As we learn what the hackers are doing, we catch up... Our wars, that are happening right now, it's all going to be cyber. 'Let me see if I can hack into your system and shut down your missiles' or something... You have to be on your toes.

Whether you’re concerned about your company’s digital information, or your personal information, the growing need for cyber security is evident. Paul and I discuss in the interview below the latest dangers when it comes to online theft, and how to better protect yourself. Below, you can find Paul's checklist of 11 Step Checklist To Safeguard Your Business Against Cyber Security Threats.