Cambridge residents who utilize the CodeRED emergency notification system are being urged to hastily update their passwords following a cyber-attack on the OnSolve platform. The City of Cambridge, along with its Emergency Communications, Police, and Fire Departments, has shared the news of this nationwide breach affecting users on a local level.
Cambridge officials warn that users of CodeRED who reused passwords from other accounts should change them immediately. The voluntary alert system, which provides updates on snow emergencies and service disruptions, experienced a data breach exposing phone numbers, emails, and passwords. Authorities emphasized the breach targeted OnSolve CodeRED, not the city or its departments.
The city reported that the data has not been made public but could potentially be leaked. OnSolve, the affected vendor, is investigating and reviewing ways to better protect users' information. While details about the attack or the exact data affected have not been released, the risk of a leak remains a concern.
The CodeRED program is separate from the federally managed Emergency Alert System (EAS), which sends alerts during severe emergencies without sign-up. Cambridge officials said CodeRED is voluntary and allows residents to receive city notifications. Authorities are working to keep residents updated as more information from OnSolve becomes available.
