How a Secret U.S. Cyberweapon Backfired

<p>A criminal group has held computer systems for the city of Baltimore hostage for nearly a month — paralyzing everything from email to the real estate market to the payment of water bills. But what residents don’t know is that a major component of the malware used to shut down the system was developed nearby by a federal government agency. Guest: Scott Shane, who covers national security and the U.S. intelligence community for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/thedaily" target="_blank">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. </p><p>Background reading:</p><ul><li>People involved in the investigation say the N.S.A. tool, EternalBlue, was found in Baltimore’s network by four contractors hired to restore computer services.<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/us/nsa-baltimore-ransomware.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> The N.S.A. says that’s not the case</a>. </li><li>Cybercriminals have been<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/25/us/nsa-hacking-tool-baltimore.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> targeting other vulnerable American towns and cities</a>, from Pennsylvania to Texas, in ways that could disrupt local governments for months. </li></ul>