CAMBRIDGE, Md. - Dorchester County computer systems have been hacked. Now, IT experts are racing to get it all back online. Dorchester County Manager Keith Adkins says it started Monday evening after the a ransomware attack locked access to employee emails as well as some other files.
All public safety, tax, and personnel information that were saved on a separate system are safe, according to Adkins. He adds that they don't know who the hackers are or where they're from.
"It is a random attack," Adkins said. "We are working to restore the programs that are down in a very timely manner."
Adkins says the hackers demanded money in the form of an online currency known as Bitcoin. Since then, the FBI, National Guard and multiple state agencies have stepped in to help by working late nights to get the system back.
Until then, employees have remained calm, using cellphones to communicate as IT works to get the county back online.
An investigation is ongoing.