The LA Housing Authority admits to a data breach following a ransomware attack
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has suffered its second ransomware attack in as many years.
Threat actors known as Cactus have added HACLA to their data breach website, claiming to have stolen 891 GB of files from the organization.
The archives reportedly include “personally identifiable information, actual database backups, financial documents, personal information of executives and employees, personal information of customers, confidential business data and correspondence.”
No details
A small sample was posted as proof of the claims, and shortly afterwards HACLA confirmed the news BleepingComputersays it is currently investigating the incident.
“We have been affected by an attack on our IT network. As soon as we became aware of this, we hired external forensic IT specialists to assist us in the investigation and respond appropriately,” a HACLA spokesperson told the publication.
“Our systems remain operational, we are seeking expert advice, and we remain committed to providing important services to low-income and vulnerable people in Los Angeles.”
The company has not shared any additional details, so we don’t know exactly when the breach occurred, how the crooks gained access to the network, and whether the information about stolen data is accurate. Furthermore, we do not know who is affected by the breach and whether the stolen data belonged to employees, business partners or end users.
HACLA is a government agency that provides affordable housing options and supportive services to low-income Los Angeles residents, as well as families, seniors and individuals with disabilities who need this type of assistance. It administers public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and various housing programs aimed at addressing homelessness and promoting community stability.
Cactus is a well-known ransomware group that first emerged almost two years ago. So far it has hacked over 250 companies, but has remained relatively low lately.
Via BleepingComputer
