Threat Management, Malware, Ransomware

Ransomware attack hobbles Washington food bank

An Auburn, Washington-based food bank that provides meals to individuals in need has reportedly been victimized in a ransomware attack, leaving staff members unable to access files and emails.

A report from the Auburn Examiner says the June 5 attack on The Auburn Food Bank has reduced the charitable organization to one working computer, currently acting as its server.

BleepingComputer has reported that the ransomware strain was identified as GlobeImposter 2.0. The food bank has no plans to pay the ransomware's distributors, but will cost $8,000 to replace the infected equipment.

"We are going to need help paying for this,” said Debbie Christian, The Auburn Food Bank's director, according to the Examiner. "Not to pay the ransom, but to pay for the expense of recreating our computer system. We don’t have this kind of money budgeted and we are at the end of our fiscal year and heading into summer when money is already tighter."

In addition to financial assistance, the food bank is also looking for individuals who can donate their time toward recreating Word and Excel forms, moving boxes, and working at the food bank using one of their computers. Prospective volunteers can call The Auburn Food Bank at (253) 833-8925.

Bradley Barth

As director of multimedia content strategy at CyberRisk Alliance, Bradley Barth develops content for online conferences, webcasts, podcasts video/multimedia projects — often serving as moderator or host. For nearly six years, he wrote and reported for SC Media as deputy editor and, before that, senior reporter. He was previously a program executive with the tech-focused PR firm Voxus. Past journalistic experience includes stints as business editor at Executive Technology, a staff writer at New York Sportscene and a freelance journalist covering travel and entertainment. In his spare time, Bradley also writes screenplays.

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