The malware attack froze the main servers, making documents and email inaccessible, and it took about three weeks for most of the town departments to be able to retrieve their data. At the time, Town Administrator Robin Craver would not say whether ransom was demanded.
After the cyberattack, the town reviewed ways to be prepared, and to recover, in case of future attacks. Kara Hmielowski, assistant to the town administrator, and Jeff Sorel, IT technician for the town, proposed installing "additional technological infrastructure."
The Community Compact IT funding was announced by state Reps. Paul K. Frost of Auburn and Peter J. Durant of Spencer and state Sen. Anne M. Gobi of Spencer.
"This is terrific news from the Baker/Polito administration to support Charlton's effort to guard against possible future cyber-attacks and the impacts caused by them," Frost said.
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