On 19 March 2026, IT staff in Foster City, California identified ransomware on the city's networks. The city declared a local state of emergency and suspended most non-emergency services while 911 and police dispatch stayed functional; phone, email and online access were disrupted and government meetings moved in-person, with phone and email restored around 29 March. Officials warned that public information may have been accessed and urged anyone who had done business with the city to change passwords. We look at why small, budget-constrained municipalities are attractive ransomware targets and what resilience steps matter.

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