Tuesday, March 22, 2022

KOAM report: Data breach cost city of Joplin $635,000+, including $338K ransom


The data breach suffered by the city of Joplin eight months ago, cost the city of Joplin $635,645.30, including a $338,134.37 digital ransom payment to the hackers, according to an investigative report by KOAM.

The remainder of the money went to four companies that received payments that were related to the breach.

Though the ransom total was covered by the city's insurance policy, the payments to the other companies are not.

City officials, naturally, refused to answer any questions from KOAM.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

A complete lack of transparency by the city. Taxpayer's money was used to pay for the non ransom amount. Also, the city had to pay a $25,000 deductible to the insurance company (so the city did pay part of the ransom amount).

If you watched the KOAM story on this - the city did not give up these amounts (they tried to hide them from KOAM). KOAM was able to get financial information from the city - and had to dig these amounts out. KUDOS to KOAM for their relentless pursuit of this information.

What is very concerning is why did not KSN, KODE or The Joplin Globe try to get this information? Were they concerned with MAKING THE CITY OF JOPLIN LOOK BAD???

It is amazing to me that at at time when taxpayers are being asked to support various city projects (Memorial Hall & Library) - that the city would not provide information on where taxpayer's money was used. How can we have any confidence on being informed on how taxpayer money is being spent in the future.