Two Contra Costa cities were targeted by cyber criminals last week, prompting one of them to declare a state of emergency.
The attacks against Oakley and Pleasant Hill both occurred on Feb. 22. It is unclear if the incidents are connected.
Neither city’s emergency public safety services were affected. However, Oakley residents were told to expect delays in some non-essential services. The city has declared a state of emergency. The proclamation allows for more extensive use of police powers and is necessary to obtain state or federal assistance.
A forensic audit will hopefully yield more information about both attacks, according to County Supervisor Diane Burgis. In the meantime, local governments should remain vigilant.
There was a steep rise in cyber attacks against cities and counties last year. The City of Oakland is still dealing with fallout from a February 2023 incident, which saw the personal information of government employees and residents published on the dark web.