Ari Meltzer Discusses Recent Ransomware Attacks on Radio Groups

July 23, 2019

Wiley Rein Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) Practice partner Ari Meltzer was quoted by Radio+Televsion Business Report (RBR+TVBR) in a July 22 article about a ransomware attack on a group of radio stations in Illinois.

According to the article, the ransomware attack last week involved the hacking of computer files used by the radio group’s AM and FM stations, followed by an email from the hacking group to the stations’ GM demanding a fee for providing the radio group with de-encryption software. The exact fee was dependent on how fast the radio group acted which, according to RBR+TVR, was considered a ransom. The incident last week marks the third time this year that a radio group suffered a ransomware attack.

“These attacks tend to be similar, but different, at the same time,” said Mr. Meltzer.

According to RBR+TVBR, there is no legal option for an internal systems virus unless one knows for sure who is responsible.

“The sophisticated attackers can disguise themselves to the point where it can become very difficult to identify them,” said Mr. Meltzer.

The article can be found here (subscription required).