The rise in cyber attacks against local municipalities is prompting New Tecumseth to take some preventive measures.
The 2019 draft budget includes $30,000 to pay for an IT security review and risk assessment, and to also have staff undergo cyber awareness training.
The town is also proposing to set aside $11,000 to purchase cyber attack insurance.
According to the budget report from the town’s interim chief administrative officer and general manager of corporate services, Lori Bedford, there is evidence that certain entities have performed “reconnaissance” on the town’s systems to gather information about its structure and its ability to resist such an attack.
She said the OPP has also advised the town about the rise in attacks.
Last year the Town of Midland and the Town of Wasaga Beach both fell victim to cyber attacks through ransomware known as dharma.
In late April, hackers took control of Wasaga Beach’s computer systems for several weeks, and in September Midland’s computers were similarly compromised.
In both cases the attackers demanded a ransom payment in bitcoins in order to give the towns…
