City Hall Knocked Offline by Ransomware in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland City Hall experienced a ransomware attack, leading to the closure of public operations for most of the week. The incident was confirmed by an email to employees from Mayor Justin Bibb’s office, which stated that the attack was identified after investigations by city IT staff, the FBI, and the Ohio National Guard’s Cyber Reserve. The nature and full extent of the attack are still under investigation.
The ransomware attack was first detected last Saturday, but this was the city's first public acknowledgment of the issue. The email highlighted the growing prevalence of ransomware attacks and the reality that no organization is immune to such digital threats. It did not disclose whether the city had paid any ransom.
City Hall will remain closed to the public on Monday, though employees are expected to report to work. Essential services, including emergency response, waste collection, recreation centers, the airport, and utilities, continue to operate.
The city is taking the matter seriously, validating its cybersecurity measures, and working diligently to restore and recover systems. Mayor Bibb’s office emphasized the sensitivity of the investigation and the commitment to addressing the cyber threat effectively.
The attack underscores the increasing risk of cyber threats to municipal operations and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect critical infrastructure.