In Wichita, the largest city of Kansas with a population of 400,000 people, a cyberattack occurred on May 5, resulting in the authorities’ information systems being encrypted using the Mount Program (source).
To prevent the further spread of malicious software, the municipality had to disable part of its computer network. It is currently unclear whether any data was stolen, but experts warn that criminals can extract information from infected networks before encryption activation.
As a result of the cyberattack, the city’s online payment systems, including water supply and fine payments, are offline. However, emergency services such as police and fire protection are still operational using measures to ensure uninterrupted service.
A city official stated that a thorough evaluation of the incident is underway, including assessing the potential impact on data. Such detailed assessments take time to ensure accuracy.