Ohio Pen - Columbus Thwarted Ransomware Encryption of its IT Infrastructure

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~ Columbus, OH - The City of Columbus has been the target of a cyber attack on July 18th, according to a recent press release. The ongoing investigation has revealed that a foreign cyber threat actor attempted to disrupt the city's IT infrastructure in an attempt to deploy ransomware and demand payment from the city.

Fortunately, the city's Department of Technology was quick to identify the threat and took immediate action to limit potential exposure. This included severing internet connectivity. While the threat actor's activity was disrupted, authorities are still investigating the extent of potential data accessed by the attacker.

As soon as the threat was identified, the city reached out to federal agencies such as the FBI and Homeland Security for further protection of their systems and data. The investigation is still in its early stages and remains an ongoing situation.

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther expressed his gratitude for the swift response from the Department of Technology, FBI, and Homeland Security in protecting not only their IT systems but also their residents and employees. He also acknowledged that restoring city services is currently their top priority.

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The city is currently in the process of identifying individuals whose personal information may have been exposed during this incident. They plan to provide notice and additional guidance to those impacted in the coming weeks.

The Department of Technology has been working closely with federal authorities and cybersecurity experts to ensure that their technology systems are secure before bringing them back online. Despite these efforts, both 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 systems have remained operational throughout this process. External email services have also been restored on devices within city buildings.

Further forensic investigation has revealed that the threat actor gained access through a website download rather than an email link as initially believed.

This incident serves as a reminder for cities to remain vigilant against cyber threats and take necessary precautions to protect their systems and data. The City of Columbus is committed to supporting a thorough investigation into this attack and will work to educate other cities on how to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

Filed Under: Government, City

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