Ransomware attack in Colorado exposed personal information, say officials

The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender on Friday announced that some personal client data was exposed during a ransomware attack last month, when officials shut down the office’s computer network after becoming aware of malware-encrypted data on system, CBS reported.

“If cases have been affected, we have worked to reschedule clients’ hearings and trials to ensure they are provided fulsome and effective representation,” Zachary Brown, chief deputy public defender in Colorado, told CBS. “We will continue to do that if cases are impacted.”

The Feb. 9 cyberattack prevented public defenders, charged with defending those cannot afford private counsel, from accessing case information, which prompted mass requests for postponements, and which may yet create a backlog of cases across Colorado.

The office also told CBS it’s not sure whose personal information was exposed. It advised its clients to watch for criminal attempts to access their financial accounts or steal their identities.