Hacker Wanted $500 From Louisiana Broadcaster

The victim of a recent computer hacking was Stannard Broadcasting in Leesville that was attacked. Not one but all three of its stations were affected; they are Country KVVP 105.7 FM as well as KROK 95.7 FM and KUMX 106.7 FM.

The three stations are all back on the air, but problems persist, according to RadioWorld.

“Stannard Broadcasting Inc. is working to correct problems associated with a virus that affected its data server,” the company said in a statement. A Trojan virus had been executed on a computer in the station’s network on Oct. 16 that encrypted the station’s database audio files in the server.

“Along with the virus came a text note offering a key word to unlock the virus in exchange for $500 in Bitcoin, an Internet currency,” it said.

The broadcaster did not pay any ransom; instead it reported the attack to local law authorities and went about working to get back on the air. The company said it will have to buy some new equipment and that “further measures will also be taken to secure data.”

KVVP 105.7 FM (13.5Kw) 60dBu Coverage

Doug Stannard is the general manager. “Two stations have had their music library compromised in that there is still missing audio and all the data strings are not complete,” he wrote to RadioWorld in a followup email today. “Each day there are more elements compromised. Each day there are additional files tapped by the hackers. So, each day is a new set of problems.”