Cyberattack on White Lake Township Hall

A $45 million town center project is now “on hold” in White Lake Township , Oakland County, after cybercriminals breached the township’s finances. The cyberattack, which took place on Nov. 21, has crippled White Lake Township’s financial transactions.

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The city is calling it a “sophisticated cyberattack.” The hack affected a new infrastructure bond issue related to the planned civic center project, which is estimated to cost $50 million. The current city hall was built in the 1930s and city supervisor Rik Kowall says it is woefully inadequate due to the city’s growth. Kowall says the civic center project has been in the works for years, but has now been put on hold for the time being due to the cyberattack.

Municipalities aren't the only entities to have been hit by cyberattacks in recent months. McLaren and Ascension hospitals in Michigan, among others, have been affected by such attacks , and elected officials are noting weaknesses in firewalls and other systems designed to prevent just such attacks for patients and consumers .

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A statement from White Lake Township Police Chief Daniel Keller reads: “White Lake Township learned on November 21 that it was the victim of a sophisticated cyberattack that resulted in a compromised financial transaction related to a new infrastructure bond issuance.

This topic is now under active investigation by federal authorities and the affected financial institutions, which are coordinating with the White Lake Township Police Department. While this topic is under investigation, certain aspects of the new project of the municipal political center will be put on hold. White Lake Township is conducting a comprehensive review of its internal systems and procedures.

There are no further details about the incident at this time as the investigation is ongoing. We are committed to being transparent, (and) as we learn more, we will keep you updated.” – White Lake Township Police Chief Daniel Keller.

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Cyberattacks pose a significant threat to information and system security, and it is necessary to take measures to protect against them. These measures include using strong passwords , informing and training users to recognize fraud and malicious activity, and implementing effective security software. Countering cyberattacks requires continuous skill, renewed security practices, and cooperation between technology professionals and relevant authorities. Only in this way can we protect our systems and ensure information security and our privacy

Source: whmi