Washington DC police personnel files accessed by hackers in ransomware attack: CNN
April 30, 2021, 9:55 am

Washington DC police personnel files accessed by hackers in ransomware attack: CNN

Hackers were invited by the US government as part of a pilot program to find flaws with five Pentagon websites discovered 138 security vulnerabilities. (Shutterstock)

Hackers obtained the personnel files of some Washington, DC police department officers in a ransomware attack disclosed on Monday, CNN quoted the department’s acting police chief as saying late on Thursday.

HR-related files with personally identifiable information were obtained,” Robert Contee wrote in an email to staff, according to CNN.

US media on Monday reported that the police department has engaged the FBI after its server was hacked, with a Russian-speaking ransomware group named Babuk claiming responsibility.

Ransomware groups hold files and networks hostage unless a payment is made. The US Department of Homeland Security has said that dealing with such groups is a top priority.

“As we continue to determine the size and scope of this breach, please note that the mechanism that allowed the unauthorized access was blocked,” Contee wrote, adding that the department was “working to identify all impacted personnel.”

The police department did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for a comment.

source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”