The Philadelphia Inquirer's operations have been disrupted by an apparent cyberattack that occurred over the weekend. The incident, which was first reported on Thursday, caused a major disruption in the printing of its regular Sunday newspaper. It was not clear when the systems would be fully restored. Inquirer publisher Lisa Hughes responded to questions stating that she is currently unable to provide an exact timeline. Employees were not allowed into The Inquirer's offices through at least Tuesday because of the ongoing disruptions. Hughes said the company was "looking into coworking space for Tuesday," meaning Inquirer journalists would be unable to use their newsroom on election night. She, however, confirmed that the situation would not affect coverage. The interruption of services raises questions about the Inquirer's cybersecurity practices and infrastructure. It comes as news organizations and other companies have seen growing online threats such as ransomware. Cyberattacks have become a major threat to companies, and experts said news organizations can be particularly prized targets because of the nature of their work. Hackers may want to access reporters' notes and files, for example, or to embarrass a news organization by leaking emails or Slack messages. Others may want to publish misinformation through real news organizations' platforms or simply to wreak havoc in a highly visible way.
Cybersecurity is a growing issue for news organizations. In the context of hacking, what we used to say ten years ago still applies: "There are those who have been hacked and those who think they have not been hacked," said David J. Hickton, the head of the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security. It is necessary for news organizations to follow best practices such as implementing strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and encryption, said Runa Sandvik, a computer security expert and researcher who specializes in digital security for journalists.
The Philadelphia Inquirer had notified the FBI, and it was aware of the incident. However, the FBI spokesperson declined to comment as a matter of standard practice. "When the FBI learns about potential cyberattacks, it's customary that we offer our assistance in these matters," the spokesperson said.
In summary, The Philadelphia Inquirer's cybersecurity infrastructure has been questioned after a recent cyber incident that disrupted its operations over the weekend. The company is still working to restore systems, and it is unclear when they will be fully restored. Cyberattacks have become a major threat to companies, and news organizations can be particularly prized targets. It is necessary for news organizations to implement best practices such as strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and encryption to protect their data.