Wichita, Kansas shuts down network after ransomware attack

The city of Wichita, Kansas, announced Sunday that it has partially shut down its computer network as a containment measure following a ransomware attack.

Officials said the cyberattack disrupted several of the city’s digital services, including bill payments, license applications, public space reservations and airport Wi-Fi.

“This decision was not made lightly, but was necessary to ensure systems were safely inspected prior to return to service,” the city wrote on its website Sunday.

Officials said they noticed on Sunday that malware began encrypting files and locking employees out of some systems. In response, the city shut down some systems to prevent the malware from spreading.

According to the city’s website, law enforcement has activated “business continuity measures” to minimize further service interruptions and the city is “working with outside specialists to safely restore the computer network.”

“Many city systems are down as security experts investigate the source and extent of the incident. There is no timeline for when systems might come back online,” the website says. “We appreciate your patience as we deal with this incident as quickly and thoroughly as possible.”

The ransomware attack in Wichita follows a growing number of cyberattacks on local governments, including a cyberattack last month that crippled Kansas City, Missouri’s traffic management system.