Esme brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our website, specializing in all aspects of DarkWeb security. With a deep understanding of the intricate workings of the DarkWeb and its associated cybersecurity risks, Esme curates insightful and informative content for our readers.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer, a prominent US daily newspaper, experienced a significant cyberattack over the weekend, resulting in the paralysis of its internal systems. As a consequence, the Sunday edition of the newspaper could not be distributed in print and was only made available in electronic format. The May 15 issue was eventually released with a considerable delay and in a condensed format. According to representatives from The Philadelphia Inquirer, this incident marked the most significant disruption to their publication since the January 1996 blizzard.
With a rich history dating back to 1829, The Philadelphia Inquirer holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania’s oldest newspaper. Boasting a monthly audience of over 13 million individuals, it serves as the largest news outlet in the state, delivering comprehensive coverage of local and federal events.
The Cyberattack on the Company
Lisa Hughes, a spokesperson for The Philadelphia Inquirer, revealed that the cyberattack was detected on Saturday morning when Cynet Systems, the cybersecurity company responsible for maintaining the newspaper’s network, flagged unusual activity. As a precautionary measure, certain computer systems were promptly shut down.
In response to the attack, The Philadelphia Inquirer sought assistance from the FBI and enlisted the expertise of specialists from Kroll to conduct a thorough investigation. It remains uncertain at this point who is responsible for the attack and whether any sensitive data belonging to the newspaper’s customers or employees has been compromised. The publication has committed to providing further updates should any personal information leaks be discovered.
This incident is not an isolated case of cyberattacks targeting media organizations in the United States. In late February of this year, media giant News Corp acknowledged that their network had been infiltrated by hackers believed to be from China. The hackers had maintained internal access for a staggering two years, during which they managed to pilfer a significant volume of emails and documents from numerous News Corp subsidiaries, including The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, and Fox News.