OAKLAND, California — A ransomware attack against Oakland that has affected city services and exposed reams of sensitive personnel data is creating a nightmare for city officials who aren’t sure what it will take to resolve the crisis.
While there is much still unknown about the full extent of the attack that has unfolded over the last month, experts in cybercrime say the resolution is not likely to be a happy one for those affected.
“This is a really devastating cyberattack for sure,” said Sarah Powazek, the director of a cybersecurity academic program at the University of California-Berkeley. “It’s a big deal, and it’s really unfortunate how poorly prepared folks are for dealing with this. And I’m not blaming the city at all — it’s sad that cities are supposed to be prepared and know what to do with what is an international cyber attack.”
