Lee Enterprises, one of the prominent American newspaper chains, confirmed that it fell victim to a ransomware attack that disrupted the operations of dozens of its newspapers. The attack, which occurred last week, caused disruptions in printing, subscription services, and internal operations of at least 75 newspapers owned by Lee Enterprises. The media company, known for serving secondary and rural markets, owns 350 publications across 25 states and is the fourth largest newspaper group in the United States.
Initially reported as a “cyber incident” on February 3, Lee Enterprises stated that hackers were able to access its network, encrypt key applications, and exfiltrate files. While the company did not explicitly mention the term “ransomware” in its statement, the characteristics of the attack align with typical ransomware incidents.
Despite the disruptions caused by the attack, Lee Enterprises mentioned that its operations are gradually recovering, with core products back on schedule as of February 12. However, some weekly publications still remain affected, impacting approximately 5% of the company’s revenue. Lee Enterprises anticipates a phased recovery process over the upcoming weeks.
The financial implications of the ransomware attack are still unclear, but the company stated that it has cybersecurity insurance in place to cover response costs, investigations, business interruptions, and potential regulatory fines. This incident highlights the growing threat of ransomware attacks targeting organizations across various industries, including media and publishing.
As Lee Enterprises works towards full recovery from the ransomware attack, cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of implementing robust security measures, conducting regular backups, and staying vigilant against evolving cyber threats. Ransomware attacks continue to pose a significant risk to businesses of all sizes, underscoring the need for proactive cybersecurity strategies to mitigate the impact of such incidents.
Given the prevalence of ransomware attacks targeting businesses worldwide, organizations must prioritize cybersecurity preparedness and response to defend against sophisticated cyber threats. The ransomware attack on Lee Enterprises serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by malicious actors in the digital landscape and the critical need for effective cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data and operations.