A ransomware attack on computers in the DuPage County sheriff’s office, circuit clerk’s office and courthouse has forced the systems offline as tech personnel work to “determine the full extent” of the strike, officials said.
“The sheriff’s office has indicated there is no impact to the jail,” a joint statement issued Monday night by Chief Judge Bonnie Wheaton, Circuit Court Clerk Candice Adams and Sheriff Jim Mendrick said.
“In-person court hearings will proceed tomorrow morning. Because this is an open investigation, the county will have no further comment at this time.”
The county has contacted the FBI and U.S. Secret Service about the incident.
According to the FBI website, “ransomware is a type of malicious software — or malware — that prevents you from accessing your computer files, systems or networks and demands you pay a ransom for their return.”
It can be unknowingly downloaded onto a computer when someone opens an email attachment, clicks an ad, follows a link or visits a website that’s been embedded with malware, the site said.
“Once the code is loaded on a computer, it will lock access to the computer itself or data and files stored there. More menacing versions can encrypt files and folders on local drives, attached drives and even networked computers,” the FBI site said.
“You usually discover it when you can no longer access your data or you see computer messages letting you know about the attack and demanding ransom payments.”
The situation in DuPage, described initially as a “cyber incident,” was first detected about 2:30 a.m. Monday when computer outages occurred at the courthouse and sheriff’s office, both in Wheaton, county officials said.
No other county operations have been affected officials said. However, chancery sales in the sheriff’s office will be canceled this week.
