South Carolina Capital Columbia Hit by Cyberattack, Disrupting City Services

Cyberattack Disrupts Columbia City Services

The city of Columbia, South Carolina, announced it is responding to a cyberattack that has taken several government systems offline. The city's IT department identified suspicious activity, leading to an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

Affected Systems and Resident Impact

Systems impacted by the attack include the MyColaSC platform, which residents use for utility payments, non-emergency reports, and other city services. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and animal services systems are also affected. Residents are advised to call for issues like potholes or broken streetlights while the MyColaSC platform is down.

The city has not confirmed if the incident is a ransomware attack, and no hacking group has claimed responsibility. Columbia has approximately 150,000 residents.

Operational Critical Services

City officials stated that critical public safety and utility systems remain operational. These include the Columbia Police Department, Columbia-Richland Fire Department, 911 communications, Columbia Water systems, and the Payment Center, including online payment services.

Broader Trend of Municipal Attacks

This incident follows other cyberattacks in South Carolina, such as a ransomware attack on Spartanburg County and an incident affecting the AnMed hospital system. Columbia is among several municipalities across the U.S. that have experienced service outages due to cyberattacks and ransomware in recent weeks, including cities and counties in Maryland, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Alaska, and Arizona.