Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The Wood County commissioners have opted to pay a $1.5 million fee to end a ransomware attack on the county’s computer system.
The commissioners announced Monday afternoon the county “is in the process of securely restoring systems.”
“After careful consideration and guidance from a team of nationally recognized third-party cyber security and data forensic consultants, the county negotiated and paid a $1.5 million fee to ensure a full and efficient resumption of services. While making the payment was a difficult choice, the commissioners determined it was the necessary approach to best serve the interests of Wood County residents and employees,” a statement by the commissioners said.
Many of the county systems are operational and steps have been taken to strengthen the system security, the statement said.
The commissioners said they will proceed with approval of the county’s 2025 budget despite the incident as the county’s reserve funds – set aside for emergency and other unanticipated expenditures – allowed for the payment.
“While Wood County has for years invested in the security of its digital data and computer network, this incident has shown that criminal actors pose an on-going threat. The commissioners assure the citizens of Wood County that aggressive measures have been and will continue to be taken to minimize the risk of a similar event occurring again in Wood County. The commissioners extend their appreciation to their fellow elected officials, county employees, and the public for their support and patience during this incident,” the statement said.
Due to the ongoing criminal nature of the investigation, the commissioners said they were unable to provide additional details.
