On July 1, 2024, Monroe County Government in Bloomington, Indiana, experienced a network intrusion attributed to the BlackSuit ransomware group. This group, known for its double extortion tactics, encrypts and steals data while threatening to leak it unless ransom demands are met. The attack disrupted county operations and prompted an immediate response to assess the breach’s impact.
Officials, including Julie Thomas Githens, Penny Githens, and Lee Jones, have engaged third-party specialists to investigate the breach and determine the extent of the data compromised. While the investigation is ongoing, preliminary findings suggest that no sensitive employee information has been misused. However, it remains unclear whether any personally identifiable information (PII) of vendors or the public was accessed.
Residents are advised to take precautionary measures to protect their personal information, including locking their credit with the major credit bureaus. The officials have provided contact details for Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to assist individuals in securing their credit reports.
Monroe County Government has resumed full operations and is working to resolve the situation. The officials have indicated that updates will be provided as more information becomes available, though answers may take weeks to finalize. The investigation continues as they work to mitigate the impact of the attack.
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