TECHNOLOGY
On February 3, hackers targeted Lee Enterprises, the parent company of the Martinsville Bulletin, leading to the encryption of "critical applications" and the theft of sensitive data. This revelation marks the most comprehensive update from the company since the cyberattack disrupted operations across its newspapers in over 70 markets, including Virginia's Martinsville Bulletin, The Roanoke Times, and Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Following the breach, many newspapers experienced significant delays in printing and distribution. While larger publications like the St. Louis Post-Dispatch managed to continue operations with smaller editions, other sites faced interruptions. The company has since confirmed that its investigation revealed unauthorized access to its network, resulting in the encryption of essential applications and the exfiltration of files. Lee Enterprises is currently assessing whether personally identifiable information or sensitive data, including customer payment details, was compromised and has alerted law enforcement.
The cyberattack has adversely impacted various operational aspects, including billing and vendor payments. As of February 12, core products have resumed distribution, though the recovery of weekly publications—which contribute approximately 5% to the company's revenue—remains ongoing. Lee has implemented temporary measures for critical functions and has begun a significant systems update to bolster security.
The financial repercussions of the attack are still being evaluated, with Lee Enterprises indicating that the impact is likely to be "material." New SEC regulations require timely disclosure of such cybersecurity breaches, and while the company did not mention the incident during a February 7 earnings call, it acknowledged the cyber event in its formal SEC filing, describing it as a "technology outage."
The ongoing evaluation of the incident continues as Lee Enterprises works to restore full operations and ensure the security of its systems.
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