FBI investigating Atlanta ransomware attack

By Tristan Justice

Published March 23, 2018 2:48am ET

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FBI investigating Atlanta ransomware attack — Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at a press conference in Atlanta, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. Atlanta's mayor is promising a "safe, smooth and secure" college football championship game Monday, despite the traffic problems expected to be caused by President Donald Trump's motorcade, but none of the many agencies involved are taking any chances. | (AP Photo/David Goldman)

The city of Atlanta’s computer network fell victim to a ransomware cyberattack early Thursday morning, officials confirmed.

The FBI and Homeland Security Department are investigating the cyberattack, which included a ransom note demanding money — $6,800 per computer or $51,000 for the entire system, via Bitcoin — for decryption keys, but did not say whether officials were considering payment.

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Atlanta Bitcoin Cybersecurity FBI Georgia Microsoft