Huber Heights, Ohio, is grappling with the aftermath of a ransomware attack that was discovered on Sunday morning, impacting various city departments. While police, fire, and emergency services remain functional, several departments, including utilities, tax, zoning, engineering, finance, human resources, and economic development, are facing disruptions. City officials, led by Rick Dzik, Huber Heights city manager, assured residents that 911 and emergency services are operational, and efforts are underway to restore data from backups. The city is coordinating with local, state, and federal law enforcement to investigate the extent of the attack.
City spokeswoman Sarah Williams explained that the ransomware attack has locked city employees out of vital systems used for data tracking, prompting immediate action to restore data and conduct a forensic analysis of affected computers.
While billing systems for utilities and taxes are expected to be impacted for at least a week, the city is waiving late fees for utility payments and refraining from conducting shut-offs this month. Residents who wish to pay utilities this week are advised to bring a copy of the bill and make payments in cash or check, as the city currently lacks access to individual bills and cannot process credit cards.
City officials are actively working to determine if any resident or staff information was accessed during the attack, with plans to notify affected individuals promptly. The city’s website and phone lines remain operational, with updates scheduled at 2 p.m. daily on the city website and Facebook page.
Although the exact cause of the attack is yet to be determined, the city is conducting an investigation, and insurance coverage is in place for this type of cyber threat. Importantly, the ransomware incident did not impact essential services like leaf pickup or trash services, which are managed through third-party contracts.
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