The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, went on lockdown five days after the new year. In the wake of a ransomware attack, an Albuquerque jail lost access to its video feeds and its automatic door mechanisms were rendered ineffective. As a result, inmates have been confined to their cells as technicians work to restore service. The jail's internet connection has been knocked out by a ransomware attack, putting most of their data systems, security cameras, and automatic doors inoperable. While MDC personnel worked to get everything back up and running, inmates were confined to their cells.
"Most county buildings are closed to the public," officials said shortly after the incident in a statement. "However, given the circumstances, county personnel are working remotely and will assist the public as much as possible. County system vendors are notified, and are working to resolve the problem and restore system functionality."
The Metropolitan Detention Center in the state lost access to some of its most important security technologies, such as camera feeds and automated jail doors. For obvious reasons, the county was compelled to lock down the whole jail, confining all of the inmates to the cells for the time being.
Ransomware is becoming one of the most serious dangers to both commercial companies and government institutions around the world. As more official and commercial businesses are conducted online, ransomware attacks, in which a hacker steals data from the victim or takes control of a computer system until a ransom is paid, are becoming more widespread.
A township spokeswoman, Tia Bland, said workers had some luck getting MDC cameras to work over the weekend. Officials at the facility expressed optimism that additional progress would be made on Monday. Beginning Monday at 8 a.m., public access to the county headquarters at Alvarado Square will be restricted. Following this, companies and organizations are under a lot of pressure to pay up not only to get the company's data unlocked but also to avoid enraged clientele and authorities who issue severe warnings about giving money to criminals.
