Ransomware attacks are increasingly making headlines after a high-profile attack on the Colonial Pipeline shut down operations and caused gas prices to increase throughout the United States. A “ransomware” attack involves a hacker taking control of your computer systems, website, and/or email and holding them hostage until you pay a ransom to the hacker. While big attacks make the news, small businesses bear the brunt of ransomware attacks. In July 2021, the Senate Judiciary Committee found that ransomware attacks have disproportionately impacted small businesses.
If you are a small business, malicious hackers can gain access to your system through out-of-date security patches on company computers, through compromised website or email servers, and through software vendors with unsecured code. If a company is a victim of a ransomware attack, it may have legal obligations to its employees or customers. The Massachusetts Data Security Regulations require that you notify employees and customers if your system is breached. An attorney can help you determine how to comply with the breach notification laws.
If your Massachusetts business has suffered from ransomware attack, our attorneys can help with your Digital Liability and Online Data Security needs.
Author: Diana Day, Esq.