The Suisun City Council planned to convene for an emergency meeting on Tuesday to consider the city’s response to demands from a “person or persons” behind a malware attack that has brought city operations to a standstill since Friday, according to the Suisun City Manager’s Office.
The meeting, which was scheduled for 8 a.m., includes a closed session item on anticipated legal action.
“Our records are hostage,” said Suisun City Council member Princess Washington of the cyberattack.
City Hall has been closed since Friday, when around 5:45 a.m., “a piece of malware” was detected by Suisun City’s information technology department, which is manned by two staffers and a third-party contractor, according to Michael Elm, a spokesperson for the City Manager’s Office.
Elm was unable to comment on the existing demands or entity behind the cyberattack as it is currently under investigation by the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security alongside the Suisun City Police Department and cybersecurity personnel via the city’s cybersecurity insurance plan.
Under state of emergency
In an emergency meeting Saturday morning, the City Council designated City Manager Bret Prebula as the director of emergency services and declared a state of emergency — which opens up the possibility of state and federal funds to support the city while they work to resolve the matter.
As of Monday, the city was functioning remotely. In-person meetings with most Suisun City agencies were cancelled, including the Planning, Building, Housing, Water, Finance, Human Resources, and Public Works departments, as well as the City Manager’s Office and city administration.
“It’s very stressful,” said Washington. “Anybody who exists in society now depends on networks and internet — even more so, a city. When I think about police dispatch, records, the ability for people to do simple things like pay a water bill? It’s hard.”
Solano County dispatch is continuing to provide support for 911 calls in Suisun City, with city police and fire departments responding to calls, according to Elm. The Police Department lobby is open for ticket signoffs, vehicle releases and general assistance.