City of Columbus sues researcher for sharing leaked ransomware data


The City of Columbus, Ohio, has taken legal action against a security researcher who shared leaked data from a ransomware attack against the city with members of the news media.

A lawsuit filed last week alleges that the actions of software development consultant David Leroy Ross Jr., who also goes by Connor Goodwolf, risks “irreparable harm” to the city and its residents via the exposure of sensitive stolen data. The city alleges Ross downloaded the data from the dark web, after it was leaked by the Rhysida ransomware gang and “is threatening to share the City’s stolen data with third parties who would otherwise have no readily available means by which to obtain the City’s stolen data,” according to the complaint filed by Westley M. Phillips, the city’s lead attorney for civil litigation.

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Source: SC Media


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