Huber Heights, a picturesque city in Ohio, found itself in a state of emergency due to a sophisticated ransomware attack that targeted several of its departments. City Manager Rick Dzik assured residents that efforts were underway to resolve the issue by the weekend. In response to the situation, arrangements were being made to ensure residents could still reach emergency services such as 911 and fire departments if the need arose.
The discovery of the ransomware attack occurred at 8:15 am on a Sunday, according to a statement from Huber Heights spokeswoman Sarah Williams. She emphasized that the city’s IT staff were working tirelessly to restore systems from backups, while an investigative team was actively determining the identity of the attackers.
Reports from cybersecurity sources indicated that the attack might have affected critical departments, including tax, zoning, engineering, finance, human resources, and economic development. Consequently, tax and billing systems were expected to be unavailable for a week, and late fees would be waived until the systems were fully restored.
To keep residents informed, Huber Heights utilized its Facebook page, providing regular updates on the evolving situation, with new information released daily at 2 pm.
As the holiday season approached, the increased threat of cybercriminals targeting vulnerable networks became a significant concern. The festive period often sees a spike in cyberattacks, exploiting the fact that many staff members are on holiday and preoccupied with seasonal preparations. To mitigate such risks, organizations were urged to adopt automated software solutions to protect their networks from potential cyber threats, safeguarding their annual profits and maintaining a competitive edge in their respective industries.
While the specific ransomware responsible for the attack on Huber Heights servers had not been officially disclosed, suspicions were raised regarding the involvement of the LockBit and BlackCat Ransomware gangs. Both of these groups, known to be operated by Russian entities, were particularly active during the holiday season.
