been going on since the weekend… people can't even do house closings… fucked up mess dems
Baltimore officials say city websites safe to visit even as online payment systems remain crippled by hacker
Doug Donovan Doug DonovanContact Reporter
The Baltimore Sun
Baltimore officials on Wednesday assured city residents that they can safely visit government websites but that the city’s computer systems have still not recovered from a digital attack that has crippled email, online payments and property sales.
Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young and his top staff said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Microsoft and other vendors were helping the city restore the network, but they would not provide details because the ransomware attack detected May 7 is being criminally investigated.
City officials said at a City Hall news conference that the city’s ability to facilitate real estate transactions could be restored soon. The hack has shut down the systems essential for completing home sales, putting a halt to property deals during one of the real estate industry’s busiest times of year.
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“The city’s lien system is presently not available to us,” said Finance Director Henry J. Raymond. “As a result there are no real property transactions being conducted in the city.”
He said the city hopes to resume those services “late next week” and that the Maryland Attorney General’s office is helping the Clerk of the Court’s office to restore the legal process necessary to complete sales.
“There are no guarantees,” Raymond added.
City Solicitor Andre Davis said the real estate transaction system is crucial.
“The people who want to buy a house in the city are very important to us,” Davis said during a City Hall news conference.
Raymond also said the city is preparing contingency plans for receiving electronic payments for property taxes that are due June 30. He also said the city has experienced “some delays” in paying its bills.
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Frank Johnson, Baltimore’s chief digital officer, said his staff and vendors are working around the clock to fix the systems.
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“I can tell you all confidently that we will be back online and we will be back online more safely and securely than we were before,” Johnson said.
He just couldn’t say when.
Home sales are held up; Baltimore ransomware attack cripples systems vital to real estate deals
Davis and Johnson have both been speaking with city officials in Atlanta, Ga., which experienced a similar attack, and that they are confident they are taking all the necessary actions required to restore service.
City officials declined to say what vendors have been hired to help with the recovery effort. Raymond said any contracts with those vendors have been authorized by him. They also declined to say whether the city had a recovery and emergency plan in place for such a hack. Davis said they could not answer such questions because of the criminal investigation into the attack.
The ransomware was detected May 7. Hackers locked up files on city computers, demanding a payment to turn over the keys, but officials have said they won’t pay.
The disruption to the computer network has caused widespread problems in city government. City employees do not have access to email, leading some to create private accounts to get work done. The hack has affected the city’s ability to accept payments, and officials have said they are suspending late fees. Several agencies are developing workarounds to continue offering services that typically rely on computers.
ddonovan@baltsun.com
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