The City of Seattle has recently learned that a third-party utility billing vendor, Automatic Funds Transfer Services, Inc. (AFTS), which is used by a small number of City departments, was the victim of a ransomware attack. City departments use this vendor for commercial billing, printing and mailing services. Seattle Information Technology Department leads, including security and privacy teams, are working with AFTS, affected departments and the City Attorney’s office to understand the potential impact of this incident on personal information.
There is no evidence that any City of Seattle infrastructure or systems were impacted or are at heightened risk due to this event.
As we learn more about whether and how the event impacted the City, the City will notify individuals whose personal information was acquired without authorization as a result of this event. The City of Seattle encourages residents to stay vigilant and be aware of their online accounts and transactions at all times. Online security tips can be found here.