Some Wichita city services return weeks after cyber attack: What it means for you
A number of city services went offline due to a ransomware attack on the City of Wichita early last month and now, more than a month later, some services are back to functioning.
The cyber attack occurred May 5, shutting down several online city services, including online water bill payments, some city building Wi-Fi, electronic payments and more.
By definition, a ransomware attack is “a form of malware designed to encrypt files on a device, rendering any files and the systems that rely on them unusable. Malicious actors then demand ransom in exchange for decryption,” according to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.
Some key city services are now functioning again, while some are still offline. Here’s what’s back available and what we’re still waiting on, according to a Monday press release from the city:
Water bills
Water bills can now be paid online, and customers should expect to begin receiving their statements again this week.
If you delayed paying your water bill due to the online outage, your statement may cover more than 60 days of service. If you may struggle paying that full amount, the city says to call (316) 265-1300 to arrange a payment plan.
The city will not assess late penalties until three days after the August water bill due date, city spokesperson Megan Lovely told The Eagle.
As usual, water bills can also be paid in person using a credit card, cash, check of money order at City Hall. Customers can also mail their payments and pay over the phone.
Public libraries
Public Wi-Fi is restored at all locations, and materials can be checked in and out manually. However, customer account information, renewals, hold requests and online databases are still unavailable.
The airport
Departure screens are still unavailable at the Dwight D. Eisenhower airport, but the city says they’re expected to be back online soon.
Municipal court
Most of the court system is online, but the city says to still call the court at (316) 268-4345 to verify information ahead of your court date.
The city says all other systems outside of the ones listed above should be back up and working as expected.
This story was originally published June 10, 2024 at 12:09 PM.
