An attack on City of Modesto computer systems has left the Modesto Police Department embracing “old school policing” techniques to manage calls for service and transporting of criminals for a number of days.
Officers, who were usually equipped with mounted computers to access information, are now relying
Driving the news: Anonymous sources told McClatchy that police interceptor computers were no longer being utilized over an alleged ransomware attack.
- Now, 9-1-1 dispatchers are relaying call details to officers on patrol via radio – once the dominant practice that has since been abandoned – rather than via secure computer systems.
- The move has left police officers an their activities unusually exposed, with individuals able to tune into police scanners to hear near play-by-play of Modesto Police officers transporting arrestees to Stanislaus County Jail or transitioning from one call to the next.
What they’re saying: Modesto city officials haven’t publicly confirmed the existence of a hack or its impact on Modesto Police, but have indicated that they detected “suspicious activity” within its networks .
- The city is “experiencing limited connectivity to some systems. Our ability to facilitate city services including emergency service and answer 911 calls is fully operational,” city officials said in a statement to the paper.
- “Upon learning of this suspicious activity, we strategically disconnected portions of our network out of an abundance of caution. We have also initiated an investigation with leading cyber security experts.”
