Chennai: The Tamilnadu government’s public department has come under a malicious ransomware attack, resulting in several files being locked by a 16-digit encryption code that served as unique ID of the miscreants.
According to reports, the suspects reportedly demanded a payment of $1,950 in cryptocurrency as ransom for handing over the decryption code.
The department functions directly under the Chief Secretary and deals with important matters concerning the general administration of the State.
It also handles protocol arrangements relating to visits of VVIPs, VIPs, and other dignitaries, and matters of common interest between the Central and State governments, besides handling law and order issues.
When officials attempted to open the locked files, the unique ID popped up demanding payment of a certain amount for each file, it is said.
A probe has been launched into the issue, officials said and added that no security data has been compromised.