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What is this?
What is this?
This project aims to explore and identify the risks, threats, and vulnerabilities associated with computers and mobile devices, while examining digital privacy and developing digital literacy skills.
A cyberattack, by the group "Dark Engine", targeted the hydraulic pump system that protects Venice from flooding occurred in late March. The group offered root access to the system for $600. The price suggests that the goal was not a typical ransomware attack. Instead, it seems that it was a demonstration of how easily infrastructure can be accessed. The article suggests the line between cyber and physical is gone. As we have progressed into the digital age more technology is defined as operational technology (hardware and software that controls, monitors and automates physical processes and industrial equipment). To protect against this kind of attack we can update legacy systems. These OT systems were often designed for reliability and not security. Going back to them and updating defense would greatly help.
A screenshot of the demands the group posted to social media
A screenshot of the demands the group posted to social media
Source Evaluation
Source Evaluation
Author: Pierluigi Paganini
Published: Security Affairs
Date: April 12, 2026
The article is written as a blog post that has a link to the direct news story. The tone is alarm raising; it is meant to worry people about the security of the programs around them. The author is a credible expert who has a series of articles on cybersecurity. They advance the hacker groups agenda of raising awareness to the issue. I don't see this as an issue of the authors integrity because it generally aligns with a progressive view of technology.
Citation
Citation
Paganini, P. (2026, April 12). Hackers claim control over Venice San Marco anti-flood pumps. Security Affairs. https://securityaffairs.com/190679/hacktivism/hackers-claim-control-over-venice-san-marco-anti-flood-pumps.html
The article was a news report on the ransomware attack on Winona County. Officials have not released information if personal information had been leaked but noteworthily, this is the second attack that has targeted Winona County this year. To contain the effects of the attack the county shut some parts of their system down. The attack occurred on April 7th but as of April 10th some services are still down. Most of the article information comes from the videos linked made by the Ben Clinger, the emergency management director for Winona County. Although the director did not mention any specifics on the attack, we do know that it was severe enough for the national guard to bolster the local IT department with 15 techs.
Source evaluation
Source evaluation
Author: Kilat Fitzgerald
Published: FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
Date: April 10, 2026
This article largely is based on official statements made from Winona County Emergency Management. It includes quotes and two linked videos. One to the news segment and the other to the video of Ben Clingers addressing reporters. With the lack of information being made available to the public the article/segment is short but professional and informative. The article states "Winona authorities say they are working with National Guard IT experts to "harden" the network and prevent future ransomware attacks. " It does not include any technical information on how to stop these attacks as that is outside the scope of local news. Since I am unsure how they system was taken over I can generally recommend they should separate critical systems. That way if one system is affected it doesn't necessarily mean that all systems are affected.
Citation
Citation
Fitzgerald, K. (2026, April 10). Winona County works to fully restore services following ransomware attack. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. https://www.fox9.com/news/winona-county-ransomware-april-10
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