City of Wichita shuts down IT network after ransomware attack
The City of Wichita, Kansas, disclosed it was forced to shut down portions of its network after suffering a weekend ransomware attack.
Wichita is the largest city in Kansas, with a population of 400,000 people, ranking it among the top 50 largest cities in the United States.
In a rare display of transparency, the City confirmed they suffered the attack on Sunday, May 5th, when IT systems were encrypted with ransomware.
In response to the attack, the City shut down its computer network to prevent the spread of the ransomware to other devices.
At this time, it is not known whether data has been stolen. However, it is very common for ransomware gangs to steal data in compromised networks for days, if not weeks, before deploying their encryptors.
"We are completing a thorough review and assessment of this matter, including the potential impact on data. Detailed assessments of these types of incidents take time," government officials shared on the City of Wichita's website.
