City of Columbus, Ohio Details

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    City of Columbus, Ohio

    Columbus, Ohio • 8700 employees • Governments

    https://www.columbus.gov/Home
    United States

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    Security Incidents

    1

    The City of Columbus is the capital of and the most populous city in the state of Ohio, United States. Founded in 1812 and named after Christopher Columbus, it became the state's capital in 1816. The city has grown steadily, incorporating nearby municipalities and expanding services to meet the needs of its diverse and growing population.

    Columbus is known for its strong economy, which is fueled by sectors like education, government, insurance, banking, defense, and healthcare. It is home to The Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in the country, which significantly impacts...
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    Security Incidents

    City of Columbus, Ohio Breach of Jul 2024
    Severity Score
    Significant to High

    Type

    Phishing Attack

    Summary

    On July 18, 2024, the City of Columbus, Ohio, experienced a ransomware attack that disrupted several public-facing services and caused significant IT outages. The attack affected email services and IT connectivity between public agencies, although emergency services like 911 and 311 remained operational.

    The City of Columbus responded swiftly, involving the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to contain the threat. The attack did not result in system encryption, and while it was thwarted successfully, the possibility of personal data being compromised has not been fully ruled out.

    ...
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    Severity

    The City of Columbus, Ohio, experienced a ransomware attack on July 18, 2024, which significantly disrupted public-facing services and IT connectivity between public agencies. The attack, attributed to sophisticated foreign threat actors, was quickly contained with the assistance of the FBI and Homeland Security, preventing any system encryption. However, the possibility of citizen data theft remains under investigation.

    Despite the swift response, the infiltration of Columbus's internal network through a downloaded ZIP file highlights a concerning vulnerability. While critical services like...
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    Impact

    The ransomware attack on Columbus, Ohio, on July 18, 2024, primarily caused disruptions in public-facing services and IT connectivity between public agencies. Notably, essential lines such as 911 and 311 and all public safety services remained operational. The City efficiently contained the threat with assistance from the FBI and Homeland Security, preventing system encryption, though the attackers were identified as sophisticated foreign entities.

    Despite the swift response, the possibility of personal data theft is not yet ruled out. The City is currently investigating the extent of data ex...
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