Columbia city manager confirms ransomware attack behind service outages | #ransomware | #cybercrime

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – City Manager Teresa Wilson confirmed in a video posted to Facebook that the City of Columbia is the victim of a ransomware attack that took several online services offline.On Friday night, Wilson said the city is working with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to contain the attack, identify affected systems and determine the extent of any information that may have been compromised.Affected applications were taken offline as a precaution, Wilson said.Some services remain operationalWilson reiterated that the city’s utility services, Columbia Police and fire operations, online payment services, 911 communications and Columbia water remain operational.While some applications are still offline, Wilson said measures have been put in place across affected departments to maintain service delivery.MyColaSC, Geographic Information Systems, parks and recreation reservations, and payment services related to animal services remain down, according to Wilson.On Wednesday, Animal Services also experienced a temporary shutdown due to disruptions to the city’s network and shelter management software. The city had hoped to reopen the shelter at noon Friday.She said departments affected by the shutdown have implemented alternative processes to maintain operations and serve residents.Investigation ongoingThe breach was first identified Tuesday when the city’s tech department saw suspicious activity within the network and notified SLED. An investigation has since been launched.Wilson said the city is also working on an action plan with third-party cybersecurity professionals to address the ongoing threat.Columbia resident Tim Williams said he was left with uncertainty as the city works through the disruptions.“It’s scary. The internet is worldwide now. So yeah, it’s very concerning,” Williams said.A city employee who asked to remain anonymous said it has been chaotic behind closed doors, with staff unable to clock in and out and other city systems going down.Jack Pringle, a privacy and security lawyer, said the incident highlights the importance of cybersecurity.“An incident like this points out how important it is to maintain, prepare, and to secure networks,” Pringle said.Wilson said SLED may work with the FBI on the investigation. As of Oct. 23, the FBI told WIS it is aware of the breach but is not involved.A SLED spokesperson said the agency has no additional information to share.There is currently no timeline for when the affected services will be restored.“The City of Columbia understands the importance of protecting the information entrusted to us and recognizes that residents, businesses, and employees may have questions or concerns about this incident,” Wilson said in the video. ” As the investigation continues and additional information is confirmed, the city will provide further updates regarding the incident, service restoration efforts, protective measures and any identified impacts to information.”Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.Copyright 2026 WIS. All rights reserved.

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