Suffolk Lawmakers Form Committee To Investigate Cyberattack: Report

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk lawmakers have formed a bi-partisan committee to probe the source of the recent cyberattack that forced officials to shut down the county’s computer operations as they investigated and secured applications, Newsday reported.

Legis. Anthony Piccirillo, a Republican from Holbrook who chairs the government operations and information technology committee, will lead the committee as it examines the circumstances that led to the breach, the outlet reported.

“The taxpayers deserve to know exactly how and when this cyber intrusion happened, how long they were in our networks, and what personal information was compromised,” Piccirillo told the outlet in a statement, adding, “The committee will determine how taxpayer money earmarked for cybersecurity was spent in prior years, and what steps must be taken to ensure that our systems are not vulnerable to a future attack.”

Suffolk’s web-based applications were attacked Sept. 8, forcing officials to take down some of its services, including web pages and email, while they undertook an investigation. The attack has since been deemed a ransomware attack.

A cybercriminal gang named “BlackCat” has alleged responsibility, according to posts on the dark web.

County officials have previously said that the hackers responsible for the cyberattack had either accessed or acquired residents’ personal information and they advised vigilant credit monitoring.

Civil service exams that were postponed earlier this month have been rescheduled.

Officials resumed allowing title companies to perform searches last Monday, nearly a month after the county’s web-based applications were disrupted following the attack.

The county’s 911 emergency call center, which had been supplemented by the New York Police Department was restored two weeks ago.