MENU
SECTIONS
OTHER
CLASSIFIEDS
CONTACT US / FAQ
Advertisement
In this Oct. 12, 2004, file photo, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.'s headquarters stands in Hunt Valley, Md.
1
MORE

Sinclair hit by ransomware attack; TV stations disrupted, including Toledo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sinclair hit by ransomware attack; TV stations disrupted, including Toledo

Sinclair Broadcast Group, which operates dozens of TV stations across the U.S. including Toledo’s Channel 24, said Monday that some of its servers and work stations were encrypted with ransomware and that data was stolen from its network.

The company said it started investigating Saturday and on Sunday it found that some of its office and operational networks were disrupted. The broadcast group did not immediately say how many TV stations were directly affected.

The Hunt Valley, Maryland-based company either owns or operates 21 regional sports networks and owns, operates or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets.

Advertisement

In Toledo, WNWO, Channel 24, appeared to be off the air Monday afternoon, and then later aired nationally syndicated news instead of its regular programming. The station posted on Facebook that “our operations are currently limited. We will provide further updates as they become available.”

A Windows laptop and Mac desktop computer.
Vincent Lucarelli
Prep, fortification best defense against cyberattacks, local experts say

Nashville, Tennessee’s WZTV put out a notice on its website Monday about “serious technical issues” at the TV station affecting its ability to stream content.

“We are also currently unable to access our email and your phone calls to the station,” it said.

Sinclair said it’s taken measures to contain the breach and that its investigation is ongoing. However, it said that the data breach has caused — and may continue to cause — disruption to parts of its business, including aspects of local advertisements by local broadcast stations. The company said it is working to restore operations.

Advertisement

Sinclair said it can’t determine whether or not the data breach will have a material impact on its business, operations or financial results.

Ransomware attacks, in which cyber criminals encrypt an organization’s data and then demand payment to unscramble it, are a growing scourge in the United States. The Biden administration has pledged to disrupt and prosecute criminal networks like the one that attacked a major U.S. pipeline company in May. The attack on Colonial Pipeline, which led to gas shortages along the East Coast, was attributed to a Russia-based gang of cybercriminals.

Ransomware payments reached more than $400 million globally in 2020 and topped $81 million in the first quarter of 2021, according to the U.S. government.

Crane Hassold, director of threat intelligence at Abnormal Security, said the hackers behind the ransomware attack on Sinclair could have gotten into the company’s system a while ago.

“With many ransomware attacks these days, the initial access that precipitated the attack generally occurs weeks, if not months, ahead of time,” he said.

Several media outlets have been hit by ransomware attacks in recent years. Cox Media Group, a major media conglomerate, said recently it was the target of a ransomware attack earlier this year. And a ransomware attack briefly knocked the Weather Channel off air in 2019.

Sinclair shares declined about 3 percent in afternoon trading.

First Published October 18, 2021, 2:04 p.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS  
Join the Conversation
We value your comments and civil discourse. Click here to review our Commenting Guidelines.
Must Read
Partners
Advertisement
In this Oct. 12, 2004, file photo, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.'s headquarters stands in Hunt Valley, Md.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Advertisement
LATEST business
Advertisement
Pittsburgh skyline silhouette
TOP
Email a Story