(12-26-24) The Wood County Commissioners have announced that the ransomware incident has been addressed and the county is in the process of securely restoring systems.
Statement From Wood County Commissioners
After careful consideration and guidance from a team of nationally recognized third-party cybersecurity 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.
At this time, many of the county systems are operational, and steps have been taken to strengthen system security.
The county’s reserve funds, set aside for emergency and other unanticipated expenditures, allowedfor the payment of this fee without impact on the county’s 2025 budget, which will be approved and released on Thursday.
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.
Given the ongoing criminal nature of the investigation, the commissioners’ Office is unable to provide additional details at this time.
Mercer County Outlook 