The city of Columbus, Ohio, is working diligently to restore its systems following a significant cybersecurity incident. The attack has disrupted multiple resident-facing IT services, although essential services like 911 and employee payroll remain operational. The city first alerted the public through a brief Facebook statement, and officials have since confirmed that all city services are affected. Mayor Andrew Ginther noted that while emergency services continue to function, they are not operating at full efficiency, relying on paper processes due to system shutdowns. The city’s Department of Technology discovered an abnormality on July 18 and has since involved law enforcement and cybersecurity experts in the recovery efforts.
Columbus is not alone in facing cybersecurity challenges. Over the past week, several U.S. municipalities, including Forest Park, Georgia, and Newcastle, Washington, have reported ransomware attacks. In Forest Park, hackers gained network access, though no sensitive data appears compromised. Meanwhile, Newcastle managed to halt an attack but faces threats from the RansomHub gang. Los Angeles County Superior Court experienced a ransomware attack that disrupted various systems.