Headlines

Hackers Hold Jeweler’s Data Hostage

He paid a CA$2,300 ransom.

Published

5 years ago

September 24, 2019

INSTORE Staff

A jeweler in Barrie, Ontario, is recovering from a ransomware attack, Barrie 360 reports.

Jeff Walters, owner of Jeff Walters Jewellers, said business records dating back over two decades were held hostage.

The cybercriminals asked for money to release the data, and he ended up paying them CA$2,300.

So far, by paying the ransom and working with information technology professionals, Walters has been able to regain access to most but not all of his data, Barrie 360 reports.

Barrie Police spokesman Peter Leon was quoted saying, “Law enforcement does not recommend negotiating with these individuals, because it’s a form of organized crime. What people need to do is make sure to utilize safe and secure sites that don’t put them down a path that could be very, very dangerous.”

He said authorities are seeing more and more cyberattacks on small businesses.

Read more at the Barrie 360

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