DETROIT – Department of Homeland Security agents are warning Metro Detroit businesses and government entities of recent cyber attacks holding their data hostage, according to a press release issued Wednesday.
The Homeland Security Investigations Detroit team has reportedly disrupted 16 cyber attacks aimed at infiltrating vulnerable networks. Agents obtained information from credible sources indicating businesses and government offices in Metro Detroit were attacked or soon-to-be-attacked by hackers.
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DHS agents have initiated at least 1,000 cyber related criminal investigations, leading to at least 293 arrests, 199 indictments and 144 convictions across the U.S. in 2023. Agents collected information from hackers, such as ransomware information, to apprehend those responsible for the attacks.
“The people experiencing these cyber-attacks are victims of a crime,” HSI Detroit special agent Brian Stewart said. “We want them to know that they can reach out to us for assistance should they find themselves the target of bad actors who would seek to exploit their data or operations.”
Ransomware attacks are the result of data breaches that can occur when businesses, government agencies and individuals do not update their computers or resolve computer exploits.
As many organizations, companies and individuals rely more often on digital information, the number of cyber attacks in the U.S. and abroad have substantially increased. While HSI works to prevent attacks by hackers from all over the world, the Federal Trade Commission and the Detroit Field office recommends considering the following:
- Update your operating system regularly.
- Keep your security patches current.
- Businesses should consider having a stand-alone server.
- Use and monitor intrusion detection systems.
- make sure your system’s firewalls are active and updated.
- Call 1-866-DHS-2423 if you believe you were targeted in a cyber-crime.
- If you believe a scammer has personal information like your Social Security, credit card or bank account number or other personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov and take the specific steps depending on the information you lost.
- Never open phishing emails or texts.
Phishing emails and text messages often try to steal passwords, account numbers or Social Security numbers, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Phishing emails often claim to have noticed suspicious activity, claim there is a problem with your payment information, asking for your personal or financial information, includes an invoice you do not recognize, wants you to click a link to make a payment or says you are eligible for a government refund. These scam emails also often have generic greetings, say your account is on hold because of a billing issue, invites you to click a link to update payment information and more.
To learn more about phishing emails and other scams, click here.
