Cyber Incident Victim: City of Marieville
Date:
Dec 2020
Location:
Canada
Summary
The City of Marieville experienced a cyberattack disrupting its IT systems and networks, prompting an ongoing investigation by experts to secure infrastructure and restore affected municipal services. Essential services, including emergency dispatch, remained operational, while non-essential impacts included a temporary phone line for urgent requests, postponed budget meetings, halted library activities, and continued arena access via online reservations. Restoration timelines were pending, with updates communicated through the city’s website and social media. Citizens were advised to prioritize digital channels for information amid recovery efforts.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 2 motives | 2 techniques |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
The City of Marieville experienced a disruption to its information systems beginning on December 8, 2020, initially characterized as technical failures before being confirmed as a cyberattack following investigations completed by December 11. Municipal computer networks and systems became non-functional, prompting the city to engage cybersecurity experts who initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the attack's scope, secure compromised infrastructure, and restore affected municipal services. Emergency services including dispatch operations remained operational throughout the incident, maintaining critical public safety functions. The city established a temporary telephone number (514 797-7980) to handle priority requests while its primary phone system remained offline, directing residents to consult the municipal website as the primary information source. Non-essential services experienced significant disruptions, with library operations suspended indefinitely and extraordinary council meetings for 2021 budget adoption postponed. Recreational services at Julien-Beauregard Arena continued through online ice time reservations via the city's website, maintaining partial community operations during the outage.
Municipal authorities refrained from speculating about the attack's nature or potential data compromise during the initial response phase, emphasizing ongoing forensic analysis. Response priorities included environmental remediation, service restoration, and public communication through digital channels including the city website and Facebook page. The incident caused operational adjustments across multiple departments, requiring service prioritization and temporary procedural changes. No restoration timeline was provided, though officials committed to expedited recovery efforts and pledged regular public updates as the situation evolved. The city acknowledged service limitations while expressing appreciation for resident patience during the disruption period.