FIRST: A local company has been targeted with Ransom Ware:
The company has faced a ransomware attack at around 05:30 a.m. on the 25.10.21. The accounts department were unable to access their hard drives at around 8am or 9am on the 25.10.21. An internal IT specialist tried to remotely access a server on site, but access could not be gained.
When looking into the matter further it was noticed that there were files that had become encrypted on the server. Remote access was made to several different servers and files were also encrypted on these servers too.
A ransom text arrived displaying each directory folder across all the servers linked to the company.
The scammer stated that their network had been attacked and all computers and servers linked were locked.
The suspect went on to say, a decryption tool was required to restore the network. The scammer stated data had also been downloaded from the network and it would be published on a news site, if the ransom was not paid.
The scammer gave them a link in order to discuss restoring the data. The company accessed the link which advised them to join a web chat, in order to discuss the ransom further.
The company has not made further contact, but has received an emails from the scammer confirming 60gb of company data had been stolen.
The scammer said that security had been bypassed and they must make contact as soon as possible. They have not.
The company can still operate as many of their filest stored in the cloud which has not been compromised.
The hosting environment is completely separate and has not been affected. But some cannot be accessed, which has caused disruption
The whole system has been turned off and back on and all passwords changed. They are now working with our IT Fraud Crime support team.
Can all companies please make sure their security is up scratch – to prevent it happening to them. Ransom Ware is a real and current problem and companies need to protect themselves from it.
NEXT: THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER ATTEMPTED COURIER FRAUD:
The potential victim is an elderly vulnerable widow who is hard of hearing and lives alone. It now appears she has been receiving multiple calls from someone purporting to be a police officer who needed to confirm has bank and debit card details. As her hearing and memory are not good, she cannot remember many of the details, but was aware enough to refuse to give the caller any personal information !
NEXT: from RBWM:
Deal agreed for first phase of Maidenhead town centre regeneration scheme
A £155m funding deal has been agreed for the first phase of The Landing, a mixed used scheme of 429 homes, along with extensive accommodation for office, retail, business and community use.
Developers HUB and Smedvig have agreed the deal with build-to-rent operator Get Living to forward fund the first phase of the development.
It enables the delivery of the homes and 23,000 sq ft of ground floor retail, as well as car parking and extensive new public space on a 3.5-acre site in Maidenhead town centre. Construction will start on site immediately and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Temporary car park to close to enable next stage of regeneration
The temporary car park at The Landing, off Queen Street, Maidenhead, will close on Sunday 31 October to enable the next exciting stage of Maidenhead’s town centre regeneration to progress.
This space was always intended to become part of the wider redevelopment scheme, known as The Landing. We’ve used it in the meantime to provide a few extra short stay spaces for the town centre.
Motorists are still welcome to use the other existing car parks in Maidenhead, including Grove Road and West Street, which together have sufficient available spaces for additional vehicles.
All the Halloween fun, less waste
It can be scary how much waste a Halloween party can produce! You can still have lots of fun without producing as much waste.
Dressing up
A scary costume is part of the fun, but it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Get together with friends and “swish” costumes – have a swapping party, so that costumes get reused. Or why not get creative and make your own? You don’t have to be skilled at sewing – cut up old clothes and team with face paint for a zombie or make a ghost costume out of an old sheet. It can be cut up for dusters and cleaning cloths afterwards.
Treats don’t have to be tricky
If you are taking part in trick or treating, and want to keep waste low, avoid individually wrapped items in plastic. Instead, buy loose sweets from a market or zero waste shop, or a large bag online, and wrap portions in twists of bright paper or pretty paper bags. Or why not offer alternative treats? You could try little boxes of raisins or small fruits like apples or satsumas – draw a scary face on a satsuma to match your pumpkins. Or offer something that can be kept and used, like pencils or crayons.
Eat your pumpkin
Millions of pumpkins bought for Halloween are expected to go uneaten this year. With food waste being one of the biggest contributors to climate change, eating your pumpkin is a really simple way of reducing Halloween waste. Hubbub and Love Food Hate Waste have lots of recipes to use up your pumpkin instead of just throwing it away (and if you do throw it away, put it in your food caddy).
Royal Borough community spotlight
Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough.
Maidenhead Music Concert, (7.30pm Thursday 18 November) – Norden Farm Centre for the Arts. Favourite Beethoven and Chopin piano solos given by renowned pianist Piers Lane. To learn more and book your tickets, visit the Maidenhead Music Society website.
https://www.maidenheadmusicsociety.org/Windsor & Maidenhead Orchestral concert (20 November) – Braywick Leisure Centre. An evening of classical music featuring the talents of the Royal Free Singers, Maidenhead Choral Society and Dedworth Middle School Children’s Choir. To learn more and book your tickets, visit their website
http://www.wmso.org.uk/autumn2021ADS Santa Fun Run (10.30am 28 November) – Eton College, Dorney Lake. Put on your free Santa suit (included in your registration pack) and join hundreds of other Santa’s running a 5k course to raise money for the LOCAL People with Dementia, their Carers & Families in Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead, Slough, Langley & all points between. Learn more on the Eventbrite page.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/santa-fun-run-28th-november-2021-by-alzheimers-dementia-support-ads-registration-161067241455Grand Autumn Bazaar, (10am - 12 noon, Saturday 30 October) - St Mark's Crescent Methodist Church, Maidenhead. A free family-friendly event with a range of stalls including Christmas novelties, greetings cards and jewellery. Proceeds to church funds. Learn more on the St Mark's website.
https://www.stmarksmaidenhead.org.uk/diary.pdfTreasure Island pantomime, (Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 December) – Holyport War Memorial Hall. Have a swashbuckling adventure this Christmas cheering the goodies and shouting down the baddies as we cross the sea to find the treasure. Learn more on the Little Box Office website.
https://thelittleboxoffice.com/mdg/event/view/144431St Marks Badminton Club – St Pirans School, Maidenhead. We play social (but competitive) badminton on Wednesday evenings (8-10pm). We are a friendly club with players of all ages (18+) and mixed abilities around 'intermediate' level. For further details please email Ian Parker at
ianp7@btinternet.com or call 07940 691104.
If you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or activity you’d like to promote in our Residents’ Newsletter, simply send basic information about your event to
communications@rbwm.gov.uk and it could be shared with over 19,000 local residents.
You just need to include a brief description, when and where it takes place, and a link to a website/social media page/contact where people can find out more.
CRIME
I have attached reference numbers to each crime report. If you live in the vicinity of any of the crimes mentioned and have CCTV or a video doorbell, can you please check the footage. If you have any that might be of interest to the police, can you please make contact with us, quoting reference number given.
Alternatively you can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or email -
www.crimestoppers-uk.orgMAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralgeographical@thamesvalley.police.uk26/10 Tuesday 7 p.m. / 8 p.m. King Street. The aggrieved locked his bike up outside a gym. When they returned the bike had been stolen Ref. No: 43210483885
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestgeographical@thamesvalley.police.ukBISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
25/10 – 26/10 Monday 9 p.m. / Tuesday 10.30 a.m. Highfield Road. Car entered and searched – Not believed anything was stolen. Ref. No: 43210483097
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
24/10 – 25/10 Sunday 1 a.m. / Monday 6 a.m. College, Ascot Road. Building site broken into and a 110v breaker stolen. Ref. No: 43210481591
24/10 – 25/10 Sunday 1 a.m. / Monday 6 a.m. Monkey Island Lane. Building site broken into and a 3 KVA Geni stolen. Ref. No: 43210481636
