Ransom ware virus strikes Bingham County

A team of computer experts from Boise are working to free the Bingham County Courthouse from an intense ransom ware virus. Typically, ransomware is computer malware that covertly installs in a victim’s computer. It then either mounts an extortion attack that hold’s the victim’s data hostage or threatens to publish private information in the computer system. The virus attacked all the courthouse servers on Wednesday. Experts said they would work through the weekend. They hope to have everyone back online by next Tuesday. The attack had a direct impact on the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office. Callers can still reach a 911 dispatcher in an emergency, but dispatchers are using maps to pinpoint locations. So far, they have answered over 4,000 calls that will ultimately have to be entered into the county’s computer system. Non-emergency calls to the courthouse have been routed to voice mail.