The city of Coeur d'Alene announced Monday that it had detected malware on its computer network the previous day.
See also: Rock County investigates ransomware attack
The affected systems were down as the city worked to “restore services safely,” according to an email from the city. The city’s website was inaccessible on Monday, and Coeur d’Alene Mayor Jim Hammondconfirmed that the city’s phone system was down.
The announcement advised residents to expect delays from the city, but said 911 emergency services remained operational.
A Facebook post from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department on Sunday said the department was experiencing technical issues and that administrative and routine phone calls could not be routed due to malware. Emergency and non-emergency calls, which are handled by the Kootenai County dispatch center, were not affected, the post said. The department had planned to have a fix by Monday.
According to the statement, the city was actively monitoring the situation on Monday, working with external cybersecurity and data recovery consultants, following industry best practices and developing a strategic plan to address the issue.
See also: Washington County government victim of cyberattack
David Vosen, a cybersecurity instructor at Spokane Falls Community College, said Coeur d'Alene's actions so far are "pretty routine."
According to Vosen, the malware attack on the Coeur d'Alene computer system could have originated from anywhere in the world. And technically, the attacker could have targeted any organization in the world.
According to Vosen, the attack is not surprising, as government agencies are typically more vulnerable to cyberattacks than private institutions, due to their obligation to share information and resources with citizens .
Citizens can pay their municipal service bills through the municipality's website, while municipal authorities often publish the contact details of their staff on the web.
Vosen said he doesn't know enough about the services Coeur d'Alene provides on its network or the city's systems affected by the malware attack to say whether city residents should be concerned about the security of their information.
However, “if they have usernames and passwords associated with the city of Coeur d’Alene,” Vose said of residents, “when they are allowed, if they are allowed to come in and change their passwords, they should do so.”
See also: Cyberattack in Dallas County investigated by the investigative agency
🔒 Protect your privacy with Proton VPN
Swiss VPN from the creators of Proton Mail — strict no-logs policy, strong encryption, and built-in NetShield that blocks ads, trackers, & malware.
- ✔ No-logs, based in Switzerland (except 14-Eyes)
- ✔ NetShield: blocks ads, trackers & malicious domains
- ✔ Covers all devices — free version available
The link is an affiliate link — SecNews may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. It does not affect the independence of our article writing.
What are the future steps to prevent malware attacks in cities?
One of the most important steps in preventing malware attacks is public education and awareness. Citizens need to be aware of the risks associated with using the internet and the protective measures they should take.
Cities also need to invest in resilient and secure IT systems. This can include upgrading existing equipment, installing antivirus programs, and implementing security standards.
At the same time, the development and implementation of information security policies is essential. These policies should cover risk management, protection and response to breach incidents.
Finally, collaborating with information security experts and sharing information with other cities and organizations can help address malware threats.
Source: spokesperson
