Hackers Blackmailing New Orleans Sheriff's Office, Demanding Ransom for Access to Their Computer Infrastructure

Cybercriminals assert control over Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office IT infrastructure, demanding a ransom in exchange for releasing their hold.

, and Administrator

2025 September 17 . 10:13 PM

2 min read

Criminals exploiting computer systems of the sheriff's office in New Orleans, threatening to keep... — Criminals exploiting computer systems of the sheriff's office in New Orleans, threatening to keep parts of their network hostage unless a ransom is paid.

Hackers Blackmailing New Orleans Sheriff's Office, Demanding Ransom for Access to Their Computer Infrastructure

In a troubling turn of events, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) has fallen victim to a cyberattack, with the international cybercrime group Qilin claiming responsibility. The hack, which occurred approximately three weeks ago, has affected the "DocketMaster" system, which manages inmate transfers and releases.

Kati Weis, a Murrow Award-winning reporter based in New Orleans, is covering the Southeast, and has been following the developments closely. In a recent incident, a local woman found herself frustrated when her husband was not released from jail despite her paying his bond. The office is currently using a manual workaround for the DocketMaster system outage.

The cyberattack on OPSO stems from malware received via email from another law enforcement agency. The malware, a common method in most cyberattacks, has been the root cause of the system's disruption. It's been reported that about 5.5% of ransomware incidents in 2023 involved government infrastructure, highlighting the growing threat of such attacks.

Qilin, known for its malicious activities, has obtained contracts, inmate intake documents, and expense information from the office. However, the office and state are refusing to pay the ransom demanded by Qilin. The information posted so far does not seem to be sensitive, and no jail security operations have been impacted.

Louisiana and New Orleans cybersecurity specialists are working tirelessly to resolve the issue. The FBI warned of an increase in malware attacks in March, and cyberattacks exposing vulnerabilities are up 16% this year over last. Anyone needing information normally accessed through DocketMaster should call Jail Communications at (504) 202-9386 for assistance.

Prior to her current role, Weis worked as an investigative reporter at the news in Colorado. The hack occurred at a time when the FBI was warning about the rise in such attacks, underscoring the importance of vigilance and robust cybersecurity measures. The incident serves as a reminder for all organisations to strengthen their defences against such threats.