Wichita, Kansas, shuts down network after ransomware attack
The City of Wichita, Kansas, on Sunday announced it partially shut down its computer network as a containment measure after suffering ransomware attack.
Officials said the cyberattack disrupted several of the city’s digital services, including bill payments, license applications, public-space reservations and airport Wi-Fi.
“This decision was not made lightly but was necessary to ensure that systems are securely vetted before returning to service” the city posted on its website Sunday.
Officials said they noticed Sunday that malware began encrypting files and locking employees out of some systems. In response, the city shut down some systems to prevent the malware’s spread.
According to the city’s website, law enforcement agencies enabled “business continuity measures” to minimize further service disruptions and the city “is working with third-party specialists to safely and securely restore the computer network.”
“Many City systems are down as security experts determine the source and extent of the incident. There is no timetable for when systems could be coming back online,” the website reads. “We appreciate your patience as we work through this incident as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.”
The ransomware attack in Wichita follows a growing number of cyberattacks on local governments, including a cyberattack last month that downed the Kansas City, Missouri, traffic management system.
