NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – North Miami City Hall was back open on Monday after a cyberattack halted city operations — but it was not business as usual.
Residents coming in to pay bills had to do so the old-fashioned way: Cash, check or money order. That’s because there was still no computer access or online services.
Nine days after the incident, the city manager has yet to reveal details, even to the city council.
“Elected officials have some of those same questions as well,” Councilman Scott Galvin said.
The city council is finally meeting Tuesday afternoon to learn more and confirm details that have been slowly coming to light.
In an open letter, Mayor Alix Desulme revealed that his personal Gmail account was compromised first. If he accessed that Gmail on city servers, it could have caused the breach.
At 3 a.m. last Sunday, police reported an issue with dispatch.
The city’s IT specialist investigated and discovered the cause. Even today, officers are using paper and walkie-talkies to maintain the same level of service.
City employees first reported receiving spam emails from the mayor’s Gmail account. Some employees who clicked “OK” on the ransomware screen reported seeing compromising images.
Desulme, who is running for re-election in November, raised questions about whether dirty politics might be involved.
“If it were something more targeted toward an individual or something — maybe. But when you shut down the entire city…” Galvin said.
Cybersecurity experts say the ransomware may not have been sophisticated, however.
According to Florida law, city governments can’t pay hackers ransom after attacks, but city officials want to know if their insurance company can.
They plan to ask that and more at Tuesday’s meeting.