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City of Columbus offers credit monitoring to employees after cyber attack

FILE - In this June 19, 2018, file photo, a router and internet switch are displayed in East Derry, N.H. The White House on Tuesday held its first-ever cybersecurity “summit” on the ransomware attacks plaguing U.S. schools, which has included hackers leaking sensitive student data such as medical records, psychiatric evaluations and student sexual assault reports.
Charles Krupa
/
AP
FILE - In this June 19, 2018, file photo, a router and internet switch are displayed in East Derry, N.H. The White House on Tuesday held its first-ever cybersecurity “summit” on the ransomware attacks plaguing U.S. schools, which has included hackers leaking sensitive student data such as medical records, psychiatric evaluations and student sexual assault reports.

The city of Columbus is offering Experian credit monitoring for all employees after a cyberattack on July 18.

That also includes employees working for the Franklin County Municipal Court judges and clerk's office.

In a statement, the city said that employees who notice unusual IT activity or believe a city email account has been compromised should report it to abuse@columbus.gov.

The city also encouraged employees to use different passwords for personal accounts.

The move comes two weeks after a cyber attack crippled the city's email system and other operations.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said an employee went on a website and started a download of a zip file, which began began the cyber attack.

This week, an international cyber criminal group took credit for the ransomware attack.

Rhysidia listed the data it says it stole from the on the dark web. Columbus officials said Monday it contained the cyber attack, but some data may have been stolen.

The group said it got 6.5 terabytes of databases including logins and passwords, servers with emergency service applications and city video camera footage.

The group also said it wants buyers to offer 30 bitcoins, which is almost $2 million worth of the cryptocurrency.

Mark Ferenchik is news director at WOSU 89.7 NPR News.