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Ransomware Breach Halts Most Foster City Services

An investigation is underway into the extent of the attack against the Bay Area city, and leaders are moving to declare a state of emergency so they can secure outside support.

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Shutterstock/JMiks
(TNS) — Public services in Foster City have largely been suspended in the wake of a cybersecurity breach, according to the city.

Ransomware was discovered on city networks Thursday morning, the city said in a news release.

“As a result,” the city said, “public services outside of emergency responses have been temporarily paused.”

An investigation is underway into the extent of the breach, the city said, adding that “limited information is publicly available at this time.” The city manager’s office is in the process of declaring a state of emergency, which will allow the city to receive outside support.

The city said emergency services such as 911 and police dispatch are “functional and unaffected.”

Public information may have been accessed during the breach, according to the city.

“The public’s safety is our highest priority,” City Manager Stefan Chatwin said in a statement, “so we encourage members of our community to take precautions that would best assure the security of their personal information.”

Chatwin said city employees, with the assistance of outside experts, are “working diligently to restore the integrity of the city’s system and ensure there are no further security issues impacting services to our community.”

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