PORTLAND, Ore. -- It is not just big banks and corporate America that have been hit by cyber attacks. Oregon businesses, both large and small, have been targets. So has the Oregon government.
"Once these attacks happen, it is devastating," said Kate Brown, Oregon Secretary of State. "It takes a lot of time and energy to fully investigate the attack and then for us we had to essentially rebuild our systems."
Foreign-based cyber intruders infiltrated the Secretary of State's website early this year. Emails show the mounting concern in the Salem office after detecting the break-in on February 4.
Julie Pearson, chief information officer for the Secretary of State's office, wrote:
"Staff stayed and monitored and blocked the attacks until after 10 pm."
"It's now 2 am. The attacks have increased."
John Ritchie, the Lead Security Analyst wrote:
"Several incident indicators point to the attackers having come from China."
The attack would cripple the Secretary of State's computer system for three weeks and cost $177,000 to repair.
"I think the real question is: Why the Secretary of State's office?" said Brown. "Any company, any government is vulnerable to a cybersecurity attack."
The attacks are relentless.
A map from the live attack intelligence company, Norse, shows internet strikes around the globe.
"Right now, we are seeing the lion's share of attacks coming from China," said Kurt Stammberger, Senior Vice President of Market Development for Norse. "To be fair, every country in the world has machines launching attacks."
The targets of these attacks are both large and small.
In May 2012, Molalla Family Dental was hacked. The cyber-thieves had access to 4,354 patient records.
Hillsboro-based Solar World was also hit. A member of the Chinese Army is accused of cyber espionage for stealing trade secrets in 2012.
"People can commit rip-offs on the United States from their pajamas half way around the world," said FBI Director James Comey on a recent visit to Portland. "The internet allows Shanghai to be next door to Seattle. It is moving at the speed of light, so the bad guys have shrunk the world."
Cybersecurity experts say companies and governments must do a better job securing computer systems. But employees can help. If you get an unsolicited email, don't click on any links or open the attachments. Change your passwords regularly.
In essence, the attackers are rattling the door. They're looking for a way in. "It's not a matter of if," said Secretary Brown. "It is a matter of when."
