American Water (NYSE: AWK), the U.S. water and sewage utility, said it has paused billing, yanked its customer service, and disconnected some of its computers following an unspecified “cybersecurity incident.”
In a statement on its webpage, American Water said it learned of “unauthorized activity” on its computer network on October 3 and has since disconnected an unspecified number of systems “to protect our customers’ data and prevent any further harm to our environment.”
The New Jersey-based company, which says it provides service to more than 14 million people in 14 U.S. states, did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the incident.
Although the details of the breach were not disclosed, organizations in the U.S. and abroad have struggled for years to defend against and contain incursions by ransom-seeking cybercriminals, who regularly hack into groups’ computers and encrypt the data to extort vast sums of money in cryptocurrency payments.
(Source: Reuters)
Maria Reed is a financial journalist with a passion for covering US equities. She joined the ABBO News team in June 2023. Maria holds an M.S. degree in International Economics and Finance from Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg and is a CFA Level 2 candidate.
