The city of Hawkins is back online after a computer system breach, and it has new equipment and cyber assistance thanks to its Texas Municipal League (TML) insurance.
The City Hall computers were shut down on April 1, and email, online utility business and cloud documents were inaccessible. Hawkins is in East Texas and has about 1,275 residents.
City staff are using new computers and can again send utility bills to residents, take credit card payments, access city documents and resume other functions, Mayor Debbie Rushing told the Longview News-Journal.
The mayor said that the TML set up the new computer equipment along with cyber software.
The breach involved a known person installing remote access and network mapping software on the mayor pro tem’s office computer. She said the city has a recording of it as it happened.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident.
City of Hawkins Back Online After April 1 Incident
The Texas Municipal League cyber programming and insurance paid off, as it was used to obtain new computer equipment and cyber protection.
