The city said it is working to determine whether sensitive information was accessed or compromised during the attack.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The City of Columbia has confirmed it was the victim of a ransomware attack that disrupted several public-facing services and involved sensitive data within the city’s network.
The “cybersecurity incident” was discovered Oct. 20, 2026, prompting the city’s Information Technology Department to immediately contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to investigate.
City officials said the investigation is ongoing as they work with SLED and cybersecurity specialists to determine the full scope of the attack, identify affected systems and assess whether information was accessed or compromised.
As a precaution, the city said it took affected applications offline to help contain the attack and support recovery efforts.
While several online services remain temporarily unavailable, officials said that critical public safety and utility operations have not been disrupted.
The Columbia Police Department, Columbia-Richland Fire Department, 911 communications, Columbia Water systems and the city’s Payment Center, including online payment services, remain operational, according to city officials.
However, several public-facing applications have been affected, including MyColaSC and online services related to Animal Services, Parks and Recreation reservations and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
City officials said city departments affected by the temporary suspension of network applications have implemented alternative procedures to continue serving residents, businesses and visitors.
Officials said business continuity measures are in place while crews work to restore affected systems.
Residents who typically use MyColaSC to report issues can instead call 803-545-3300 for assistance. The phone line can be used to report potholes, fallen trees, broken streetlights, park equipment concerns and other local service requests.
The city said it is working to determine whether sensitive information was accessed or compromised during the attack. Officials have not yet confirmed the extent of any potential data exposure.
Officials said SLED is leading the ongoing criminal investigation and may work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other state and federal partners to determine the attack’s origin, scope and severity. The city said it has also contacted third-party cybersecurity professionals for guidance as it evaluates its response to the threat.
In a statement issued by the city on Friday night, officials said, “The City remains committed to a thorough, transparent and measured response throughout the investigation and recovery process.”
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