Police: Oakland hit with ransomware attack

OAKLAND >> The city of Oakland has been hit with a ransomware attack, police said Friday.

The city's Information Technology Department is working with law enforcement and investigating the scope and severity of the attack, the Oakland Police

Department said in a statement.

The Police Department said the attack has not affected its ability to receive 911 emergency calls and members of the public can still complete online crime reports.

The city is following industry best practices and developing an attack response plan, police said. Affected systems have been taken offline and the public should expect delays.

“We are actively monitoring the situation and sending updated information as it becomes available,” police said.

Ransomware attacks hijack an organization's computer network, often through malware disguised as legitimate-looking emails with files or links. Once clicked by an employee, those files or links allow hackers to steal sensitive information, block access to the network, and demand payment to restore access and return the files.

Last month, a group of Russian hackers known as Vice Society repeatedly attempted to destroy the data and internal network at BART in an apparent ransomware attack. More than 120,000 files related to the transit agency's police force were ultimately posted to the dark web, including six unredacted reports detailing suspected child abuse, driver's license numbers and mental health evaluations.

The group is suspected of similar attacks on hospitals, public agencies and schools around the world.