Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s office informed employees today that the "cyber incident" affecting City Hall computer systems was indeed a ransomware attack.
In an email sent to workers on Friday afternoon, which Signal Cleveland obtained, the city confirmed the ransomware presence following an investigation by city IT staff, the FBI, and the Ohio National Guard’s Cyber Reserve.
"The nature of the attack is still under investigation as we work to restore and recover our systems," the email stated. "At this time, we cannot disclose anything further, as this is a sensitive investigation."
This email marked the city’s first public acknowledgment of the ransomware attack since encountering computer system issues the previous Saturday.
The email noted that ransomware attacks are increasingly common, highlighting that no organization is immune to digital threats. Neither the employee message nor a subsequent news release from the city indicated whether the ransom had been paid.
"We are taking this matter very seriously and are working diligently to assess the full extent of the attack on our systems," the email continued. "We have taken immediate steps to validate our cybersecurity measures and are working to restore our systems as quickly as possible."
City Hall will remain closed to the public on Monday, though employees are expected to report to work. The mayor's office assured that essential services—emergency response, waste collection, recreation centers, the airport, and utilities—are still operational.
