Replacing Equipment Loaned to City After Last Year’s Cyber Attack
On Monday, June 2, the Sheboygan Common Council will consider a resolution amending the budget for the sake of purchasing firewall hardware to strengthen the city’s digital defenses. The cost of the purchase, and related services, is $129,842
The move follows an October 2024 ransomware attack that compromised the personal information of 67,947 residents.
The City first notified affected individuals a week ago.
The resolution authorizes the purchase of firewall hardware to replace equipment the city has been using on loan since it first discovered the security breach. The funds, drawn from city reserves, aim to prevent future breaches like the one perpetrated by the “Chort” group, which stole 200 gigabytes of data, including Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses.
The city became aware of the breach in November 2024 but took months to assess its scope, possibly opting to restore systems from backups rather than pay the ransom.
The delay in notifying residents until late May 2025—more than six months after the breach was detected—has fueled public frustration.
Previously at Dairyland Sentinel
