As the city restores in-house tech systems following last week's attempted ransomware attack, Independence, Mo., officials have not said whether the attack compromised personal information for utility customers.
(TNS) — As city staff work to restore in-house technology systems and the city website following last week's attempted ransomware attack,
City Manager
The city's online payment system remains unavailable, and in part because of that the city has waived late fees on utility bill payments and suspended utility shutoffs until further notice.
In a social media post Monday, the city said that when its technology systems are fully operational, it will "develop individualized, flexible repayment solutions" for utility customers who have been affected by the technology outage.
A ransomware attack is a form of cyberattack that locks up a computer or computer system, which can severely hamper an organization's operations, especially if the organization can't access a backup system. The hackers then typically demand a ransom, often paid in some form of cryptocurrency to avoid detection, before they unlock the computer system to allow access again. Cities, school systems and national and global companies have all been hit by such attacks in recent years.
Mayor
Weir said the upgrades have not yet been fully installed — they were not yet scheduled for completion — but what was in place "did prevent things from being worse."
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