Columbia Investigates Suspicious Network Activity Disrupting Online Services

The City of Columbia, South Carolina, is investigating suspicious activity on its municipal network that disrupted MyColaSC and online services for business licensing, parks and recreation, planning and development, GIS and animal services. The city’s Information Technology Department alerted the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is leading the investigation and assisting with restoration; officials have not provided a recovery timeline. Police, fire, 911 communications, water systems and online utility payments remain operational. Residents can call 803-545-3300 for service requests normally made through MyColaSC, and should continue to call 911 for emergencies. Officials have not said whether personal information was compromised, and available information does not identify an attacker or establish that the incident involved ransomware.