Suffolk Pols Give Subpoena Power To Panel In Cyberattack Probe: Report

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Suffolk legislators approved a resolution on Tuesday granting subpoena power to a bipartisan panel that will probe the cyberattack on county government that took place back in September, Newsday reported.

The resolution, which was approved unanimously, grants the panel the power to compel county officials to produce records and witnesses to give testimony, the outlet reported.

Legis. Anthony Piccirillo, who chairs the government operations and information technology committee, will lead the probe and Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey is expected to also sit on the panel, but no other members have been announced, according to the outlet.

The panel will be able to issue subpoenas with the approval of a majority of panel members, the outlet reported.

For more in Newsday, click here.

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.

County officials have never indicated what demands have been made.
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.

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