Hacking Coverage

Cyber attack leaves 6 NC counties locked out of their online records

They're responsible for keeping and protecting your most important records, but Thursday, a company that works with local governments across North Carolina has been paralyzed by a cyber attack with no end in sight.

Eric Miller, WRAL multiplatform producer

'Don't trust anything in your inbox': Holiday is peak season for scammers, hackers

Holiday shopping season is the busiest time of the year for scammers and hackers. Here's how a security expert says you can protect yourself and your family.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Election officials discuss safeguards for ballots

After the 2020 election, allies of former president Donald Trump claimed foreign powers had hacked into voting machines and changed the outcome of the presidential election. NC voting officials say that wouldn't be possible here.

NC Votes 101: Could your vote be hacked in NC?

After the 2020 election, allies of former president Donald Trump claimed foreign powers had hacked into voting machines and changed the outcome of the presidential election. NC voting officials say that wouldn't be possible here.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief

After two months of effort, animal rescue gets access to Facebook back

A local nonprofit's Facebook page was hacked and it put the animal rescue's program at risk. But, 5 On Your Side was able to reach out to Facebook, who has finally helped the animal rescue regain control of their page.

Hackers took over an animal rescue's Facebook page. 5 On Your Side helped regain control.

A local nonprofit's Facebook page was hacked and it put the animal rescue's program at risk. But, 5 On Your Side was able to reach out to Facebook, who said they would help the animal rescue regain control of their page.

Keely Arthur, 5 On Your Side reporter

5 On Your Side steps in to help rescue organization with hacked Facebook page

A local nonprofit's Facebook page was hacked and it put the animal rescue's program at risk.

FBI issues warning of growing threat from China

The FBI said the hacking efforts carried out by China's government are "bigger than that of every other major country combined.".

A Durham woman's Tesla account was hacked. Experts say the situation could happen to anyone.

Teslas are known for their cutting-edge technology, but a Durham woman says her account with the company was hacked and an expensive car charger was purchased with her credit card on file.

Keely Arthur, 5 On Your Side reporter

Knightdale woman's $2,700 web services bill could have been prevented with multi-factor authentication

A Knightdale woman reached out to 5 On Your Side for help after someone hacked her Amazon Web Services account and she was billed more than $2,700.

Monica Laliberte, WRAL executive producer/5 on Your Side reporter

Digital reckoning: A look back at the cyber security breaches this year

While 2020 saw a number of significant instances of lockdown hacking, experts say that 2021 was the year of digital reckoning.

Nightmare: Funeral fayetteville service zoom feed hacked

A homegoing celebration for a family in Fayetteville turned into a nightmare when someone hacked the Zoom feed of the funeral service and replaced it with inappropriate images.

Apple says it is suing Israeli hacker-for-hire company

Apple announced Tuesday it is suing Israel’s NSO Group, seeking to block the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire company from breaking into Apple's products, like the iPhone.

Microsoft warns: Russian hackers accessed emails at State Department

Microsoft is sounding the alarm that Russian hackers are ramping up cyber-aggression, this time infiltrating the email system of an agency at the U.S. State Department.

Coronavirus leads to surge in computer hacks, compromising your data

While the pandemic shuttered businesses and forced millions of people to work from home, computer hackers from around the world saw an opportunity. In 2020, there were more than 1,600 computer breaches reported to the state Attorney General's Office that impacted North Carolinians.

WRAL Investigates

Chatham officials didn't pay ransom but still face hefty price from hack

Chatham County government is still recovering from a cyber attack nearly four months ago.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

More Hacking Attacks Found as Officials Warn of ‘Grave Risk’ to U.S. Government

WASHINGTON — Federal officials issued an urgent warning on Thursday that hackers, who U.S. intelligence agencies believed were working for the Kremlin, used a far wider variety of tools than previously known to penetrate government systems, and said that the cyberoffensive was “a grave risk to the federal government.”

David E. Sanger and Nicole Perlroth, New York Times

Microsoft takes down hacking operation

Microsoft has stopped a massive hacking operation -- one it says could have impacted the presidential election.

Report says Chinese hackers tried to steal UNC coronavirus vaccine data

WRAL's Aaron Thomas has more on a report by the FBI that Chinese hackers tried to steal coronavirus vaccine data conducted by UNC.

Fayetteville principal has email impersonated, inappropriate messages sent to faculty, students​

The principal of Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville had his e-mail address cloned and inappropriate messages were sent out to the school community appearing to be from him.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

Fayetteville principal's email hacked

The principal of Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville had his email address cloned and inappropriate messages were sent out to the school community appearing to be from him.

Virtual town hall hacked by white supremacists, Hillsborough mayor and Northern Orange NAACP say

The NAACP said Sunday's attack is proof that it's time for change.

Expert says Twitter breach undermines trust

A breach in Twitter's security that allowed hackers to break into the accounts of leaders and technology moguls is one of the worst attacks in recent years.

Russian ransomware attacks Durham city, county governments

The City of Durham and Durham County governments were victims of a cyber ransomware attack, officials said Sunday.

JUSTIN SHERMAN & KAMRAN KARA-PABANI: Turmoil of Iowa caucus highlights cybersecurity concerns

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 -- There is no public evidence yet that the voting app was hacked or that hacking has anything to do with the delayed results from the Iowa Democratic caucuses. Yet, true to form, that hasn't stopped politicians and others from spreading unfounded claims that threaten faith in our election process.