The city of Hamilton, Canada, is grappling with the aftermath of a ransomware attack that has disrupted nearly all aspects of government operations, leaving the timeline for recovery uncertain.
Since the discovery of the ransomware attack on February 25, city officials have been tirelessly working to restore services. As of Wednesday, critical services such as water and wastewater treatment, waste collection, and transit have resumed operations. However, the attack has severely impacted online payment systems, prompting the city to resort to cash transactions and manual methods for tax payments, fines, and other transactions.
Numerous government services, including cemeteries, child-care services, and libraries, are experiencing website issues and phone system problems. City council meetings have been canceled until March 15, and the city’s libraries are unable to offer WiFi, public computers, and printing services.
In a statement, the City of Hamilton acknowledged the extensive efforts undertaken to investigate and mitigate the attack. Despite these efforts, the timeline for complete recovery remains uncertain, with the city committed to resolving the situation as swiftly and securely as possible.
Hamilton, home to nearly 600,000 residents and located 40 miles from Toronto, is investigating the possibility of resident information being compromised in the attack. However, no ransomware gang has claimed responsibility, and city officials have not provided further details on the investigation.
