North Dakota government fiber provider hit by ransomware

The company that operates a fiber optic network that supports statewide and local government entities across North Dakota was a victim of a recent ransomware attack that included some of the firm’s files being published on a website that attempts to shame victims into paying.

Dakota Carrier Network is a consortium of 14 independent broadband companies across the largely rural state that collectively own more than 40,000 miles of fiber and counts among its customers STAGEnet, a network shared by the state government and about 400 other public-sector entities, including city, town and county governments; K-12 schools; libraries; and the state university system. But early last Sunday morning, DCN learned its internal systems had been infected with ransomware.

DCN’s chief executive officer, Seth Arndorfer, said the attack was detected about 1:18 a.m., but that the organization was able to respond quickly.