FBI Warns Massachusetts: Hackers Are After Your Gmail
Massachusetts residents are being urged to tighten their cybersecurity as the FBI issues a new warning about the Medusa ransomware gang—one of the most aggressive threats currently targeting both individuals and organizations nationwide.
The group is exploiting phishing emails, weak passwords, and fake USPS delivery messages to break into personal accounts and business networks. Once in, they steal sensitive data and demand hefty ransoms.
Massachusetts Could Be a Top Target
With Boston’s financial institutions, world-renowned hospitals, and countless tech companies, experts warn Massachusetts is a major target.
So far, Medusa has impacted over 300 critical infrastructure sites, including healthcare facilities and local governments across the country.
How to Protect Yourself:
The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommend the following:
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on Gmail, Outlook, VPNs, and other sensitive accounts
- Use strong, complex passwords—and avoid weakening them with constant changes
- Install updates and security patches regularly
- Monitor for suspicious activity, like login attempts from unfamiliar locations
- Skip public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions and use a trusted VPN
- Back up essential files in secure locations
For more on this threat, read the official CISA Medusa Ransomware Advisory (CISA).
Another Growing Threat: Malware Hidden in Free Tools
The FBI is also warning about a new scam involving free online document converters. Those “convert to PDF” websites? Some are rigged with hidden ransomware ready to infect your device.
Reminder: Don’t Pay the Ransom
The FBI stresses—do not pay. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll regain your data, and many victims get targeted again.
Stay sharp, Massachusetts. These hackers aren’t slowing down anytime soon.