In a recent cybersecurity development in Long Beach, California, authorities have issued an alert following a cyberattack that struck the city on Tuesday.
Fortunately, no data loss was reported following the Long Beach cyberattack. In a decisive response to prevent further spread, the city temporarily shut down parts of its IT network. Long Beach, home to approximately 460,000 people, ranks as California’s seventh-largest city in terms of population.
Long Beach Cyberattack Details
The City of Long Beach issued a warning on November 15, stating that it was the victim of a cyberattack on November 14 and that it had contacted the FBI and hired a cybersecurity company to look into the matter.
A press release from the website of Long Beach stated, “On Nov. 14, 2023, the City of Long Beach learned that it was subject to a potential cybersecurity incident.”
“The City’s Department of Technology and Innovation immediately initiated an investigation, engaged with the City’s contracted cyber security consultant firm, and notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
The City reports that upon detecting the cyberattack, officials immediately began shutting down systems to prevent the breach from extending to additional devices.
“Out of an abundance of caution, systems will be taken offline effective immediately during the investigation and potential remediation. Systems are anticipated to be offline for upwards of several days. City email and phone systems are generally expected to remain available and City Hall and other public-facing City facilities will be open as scheduled.”
Emergency services won’t be impacted by the weekend closure of certain sections of the City’s online services post the Long Beach cyberattack.
“At this time, there is no indication this incident has impacted the City’s public safety systems such as the Emergency Communications Center and emergency response from Police and Fire.”
The specifics of the cyberattack , including whether any data was compromised, remain unclear. However, the incident bears the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, which typically includes elements of data theft.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, additional details may emerge as the investigation continues. The City is committed to keeping the public informed of any new developments and potential impacts to public services and to our community. Any pertinent updates will be provided as the investigation continues.”
The City of Long Beach has issued a list of helpline numbers, advising the public to use 9-1-1 for emergencies and (562) 435-6711 for non-emergency city services.
Typically, threat actors may delay public extortion efforts for at least a week following a security breach. Currently, no cybercriminal groups have come forward to claim responsibility for this attack.
The frequency of cyberattacks, such as the recent one in the City of Long Beach, is on the rise, the importance of prioritizing and understanding cybersecurity has become more critical than ever.
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