Ransomware attack forces Wichita to shut down its IT network

The City of Wichita in Kansas revealed that it was forced to shut down parts of its network after a ransomware attack that occurred last weekend. The affected town is one of the largest cities in Kansas and the United States, home to about 400,000 people.

Researchers have applauded the city as it became transparent about the incident, unlike other cities that are adamant in providing details. The town stated that they suffered the ransomware attack on Sunday, May 5th, after the attackers encrypted their IT systems with ransomware.

 

Wichita has immediately shut down its computer network to prevent the ransomware operators from reaching further parts of its system.

 

The Wichita advisory explained that its initial strategy was to shut down its computer network to prevent the malware used by the ransomware operators from spreading to other machines. At this point, it is unclear whether data the attackers obtained data during the hack.

However, it is common for ransomware gangs to steal data from infected networks for days, if not weeks, before releasing their encryption tools.

On the other hand, the government officials stated on the town’s official website that they are in the middle of completing a thorough investigation and assessment of the ransomware attack. In addition, they explained that the investigation will reveal if the hackers have compromised some of their data.

The city officials ask the people and other concerned individuals to be patient and wait for their official announcement regarding their discoveries. A separate research has also noticed that Wichita’s online payment systems are inaccessible. Hence, the ransomware attack has impacted the payment system for water bills, tickets, and court citations.

The first responders of the City government continue to deliver services, with police and fire departments implementing business continuity plans as needed. While the city has yet to reveal or attribute the incident to any ransomware group, they have already reported the problem to local and federal law authorities.

Therefore, the town will obtain assistance from relevant authorities about the cybercriminal incident.