In an alarming turn of events, the City of Hayward has fallen victim to a cyber-security incident, prompting the local officials to turn off its public website and associated online municipal portals. Residents now face the challenge of accessing city services offline, as phone lines, postal services, and in-person visits become the only available options.
The City of Hayward detected a cyber-security incident and intrusion into its computer networks early Sunday morning, and as a precaution has turned off access to its public website and associated online municipal portals.
— City of Hayward (@cityofhayward) July 10, 2023
Learn more: https://t.co/vb5l4unRiV pic.twitter.com/q3C71z44cg
As reported by Henry Lee KTVU, the cybersecurity intrusion leaves a significant impact on the city's systems, though officials maintain that emergency services, such as 911 dispatching and medical services, remain operational. It is worth noting that, thankfully, no breach of personal information of employees or the public has been reported, but the investigation into the cyber-attack is still ongoing.
Despite the situation, city offices continue to operate during their regular hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The main Hayward City Hall phone number, (510) 583-4000, is currently the community's primary point of contact with city officials. Nevertheless, the sudden change has caused an understandable level of discomfort and confusion among the residents who rely on online services for conducting business with the city.
Library services have also been affected by the incident; access to computers for public use will be unavailable until further notice. The Hayward Public Library, however, remains open, maintaining its regular hours. For additional information on library services and hours, residents are encouraged to call (510) 293-8685.
