H A P P Y I N D E P E N D E N C E D AY
H A P PY INDEPENDENCE DAY
Thursday, July 4, 2024 ~ Volume 136 ~ Issue Number 33 ~ $1.00
County Legislature Grapples with
Cybersecurity Issues
Amid Testimony from Lisa Black By Cait Crudden
The Suffolk County Legislature convened a crucial cybersecurity meeting, grappling with the aftermath of the 2022 ransomware attack that targeted the county’s systems. At the center of the discussion was testimony from Lisa Black, the former Chief Deputy County Executive, whose account of the events during the cyber-attack raised eyebrows and frustrations among lawmakers. The meeting, held in Riverhead, sought to shed light on the details surrounding the ransomware attack that crippled Suffolk County’s operations for several weeks in 2022. Lisa Black, a key figure during the crisis, appeared before the legislature and testified for nearly three-and-a-half hours. “We did a lot of very important work together and we can take pride in the fact that ultimately this event impacted less than 2% of county systems, all backups are retained or restored, or rebuilt, and this county did not pay a ransom to criminal actors,” said Black in Riverhead last week. The attack is known for taking multiple county systems and websites offline for months, as well as exposing the personal information of over 400,000 people. Black and former members of the previous administration continue to maintain that the compromising hack came from a specific type of vulnerability that originated in the County Clerk’s Office. Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) (Credit - Matt Meduri)
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Smithtown HS East Celebrates Achievements of the Class of 2024 Smithtown High School East’s held its 109th commencement ceremony on June 26 at the school’s football field. Principal Robert Rose told the 376 graduating seniors, “What sets you apart, is your unwavering determination to push through, make adjustments, and keep fighting the battles that are worth fighting. Whether that be heading off to college, the military, a trade school, entering the workforce or just taking a gap year to find your path, you will all find your way.” Smithtown Central School District Superintendent Mark Secaur also lauded the achievements of the students, telling them, “I was very impressed with your level of pride, commitment, and care to leave High School East a better place than how you found it. Rather than succumbing to early onset senioritis, you sought to leave a legacy for future students. For that, you should be proud.”
(Credit - Smithtown Central School District)
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FULL STORIES ON:
Kennedy Releases School Bus Audits Page 4
The Mattera Report Page 15
Upcoming Town Movie Nights Page 22