Newfoundland television station hit by ransomware attack, data breach - Action News
Home WebMail Sunday, November 10, 2024, 08:58 PM | Calgary | 1.4°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
NL

Newfoundland television station hit by ransomware attack, data breach

The Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Limited says the attack has not hampered on-air operations at NTV nor at its radio station, OZFM.

Attack hasn't hampered on-air operations, company says

A closeup shows a person's hands typing on the keyboard of a laptop computer, with blurred green text on its screen.
The Newfoundland Broadcasting Company, the company behind NTV and radio station OZFM, reported that it was the victim of a cyberattack and data breach on Thursday. (Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock)

The company behind a popular independent television station in Newfoundland and Labrador says it was hit by a cyberattack.

The Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Limited says the attack has not hampered on-air operations at NTV nor at its radio station, OZFM.

A company statement says it has confirmed that the perpetrators accessed parts of its systems and are now threatening to post data belonging to the company online.

The Play ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and its site on the dark web says it stole private data including budget and payroll information and client documents from NTV.

The group's frequently asked questions page says that it typically encrypts data belonging to its victims so they can no longer access it, and that it will only release it and delete its copies of the stolen information if it receives a payment.

Brett Callow, a cybersecurity analyst in British Columbia, says the company should take Play's threats seriously, but that it should not give the group any money unless it has no other option to restore its data.

Download ourfree CBC News appto sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.Click here to visit our landing page.