Cleveland's City Hall has remained closed to the public as officials work to address the aftermath of a ransomware attack that was first detected on Sunday. The attack has significantly impacted city operations throughout the week.
A spokesperson for Mayor Justin Bibb confirmed on Friday that the ransomware has been contained, but did not disclose whether the city intends to pay the ransom or the amount that was demanded. Due to an ongoing investigation by state and federal authorities, limited information is being shared with the public.
Following the initial detection of the threat, most city systems were shut down, and City Hall, along with another government location, was closed to residents and employees. Attempts to resume operations on Wednesday were met with challenges, particularly in processing building permits and vital records such as birth and death certificates.
While the city made progress in restoring systems on the first day back, Mayor Bibb decided to keep City Hall closed to the public, with the closure extending into the following week. Although the duration of the closure remains uncertain, city employees have returned to work.
Residents seeking services have been directed to neighboring cities like Parma and Lakewood, while some online options for city services remain functional. This incident is reminiscent of a cyberattack that forced Akron to shut down certain city functions back in 2019.
