The Sausalito City Council made the decision to cancel a recent meeting following a significant cyberattack targeting its computer systems. City Manager Chris Zapata described the attack as a “blunt force” effort, during which hackers attempted to compromise the city’s system. Over the course of 24 hours, the hackers made more than 190,000 attempts to breach the system and gain access to staff passwords. Fortunately, the city’s recently implemented security measures, particularly more complex user authentication protocols, were effective in preventing the attack from succeeding.
Mayor Joan Cox emphasized that the council’s decision to cancel the meeting was taken in the best interest of public safety and out of an abundance of caution.
While the attack was thwarted, the city chose not to release further details to the public for security reasons. Sausalito’s technology contractor, Marin IT, along with city staff, is continuing to assess the scope of the attack. As a precaution, the city is adding additional security measures to prepare for the possibility of future cyber threats.
This incident is not the first digital attack to target government agencies in Marin County.
Last year, the Marin Housing Authority suffered a significant breach, resulting in the theft of over $950,000 intended for public housing rehabilitation. Between 2017 and 2018, Marin County experienced five separate cyberattacks on its government computers. One of these attacks involved a hacker successfully tricking county finance staff into wiring $309,000 to the hacker’s bank account. These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime to public institutions.
In response to these continuing risks, Sausalito is taking further steps to enhance its cybersecurity infrastructure. The city is working diligently to bolster its defenses and prevent future attacks. Local governments across the region, including Sausalito, are increasingly recognizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data and protect against digital threats. As technology evolves, the city remains committed to protecting its systems and ensuring the safety of its residents’ information.
Reference:
