Ransomware hackers freeze millions in Papua New Guinea aid cash

Employees in the accounting department of one ministry confirmed to Bloomberg that the system was down, and that the Department of Finance told them it was working on it but didn’t explain the cause. — AFP Relaxnews

Papua New Guinea’s finance department has been hit with a ransomware attack, locking access to hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid money, according to people familiar with the situation.

The attack on the Department of Finance’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) occurred last week, the people said. The IFMS consolidated the Pacific nation’s budget and accounting for all tiers and departments of government onto a platform. It controls access to funds for the government, which is heavily reliant on foreign aid.