August 19, 2024 at 09:43AM
The City of Flint, Michigan, is working to restore network systems after a ransomware attack on August 14. The attack affected payment and communication services, but emergency services like 911 were not impacted. BS&A billing system was disrupted, causing online transaction issues. The city is investigating potential impact on personal data and working to resolve the issue.
From the meeting notes, it is evident that the City of Flint, Michigan, is dealing with the aftermath of a ransomware attack that occurred on August 14. The attack impacted various online services, including the city’s payment and communication systems, leading to disruptions in the BS&A billing system and GIS maps. However, emergency services such as 911, dispatch, law enforcement, and fire operations were not affected. Although the attack has caused gaps in service for email, phone, and voicemail services, public work services, including the Office of Public Health, remain fully operational.
The city is currently investigating the impact on resident or employee personal data and is encouraging individuals to take steps to protect themselves from identity theft. Mayor Sheldon Neeley expressed that the city is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to restore services, although a specific timeline for completion is currently unavailable.
Flint reassured residents that no late fees or penalties would be assessed for affected services, and no water shutoffs would occur during the outage. Despite the challenges posed by the attack, the city is striving to minimize disruption for its residents, and Mayor Neeley thanked the staff and partners for their efforts in addressing the issue.
The city of Flint, with a population of approximately 80,000, is the twelfth-most populous city in Michigan and is taking measures to mitigate the impact of this cyber incident.
Additionally, the meeting notes also referenced other cyberattack incidents from different locations, including Columbus, Ohio, an Australian gold mining firm, and Lyca Mobile services, indicating a broader trend of cyber disruptions affecting various entities globally.