Cyberattack Knocks Out Meteor-Tracking Organization

A nonprofit that specializes in tracking meteors has been hit by a cyberattack that Ars Technica called a “critical blow.” The incident dealt serious damage to its infrastructure: according to available reports, the group expects to remain largely inoperable for several weeks.

The original report does not disclose details about the nature of the attack or its consequences. All that is known is that the blow was severe enough to suspend the organization's normal operations for an extended period.

The case is notable in that it demonstrates the vulnerability of even small scientific and volunteer projects. Nonprofit organizations typically have limited resources for information security, which makes them an attractive and easy target. For a group that carries out continuous observations, downtime of several weeks can translate into the loss of some scientific data and an interruption of ongoing work.

Source: Ars Technica