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The largest water and wastewater agency in the US announced Monday that it is you’ve been hit by a cyber attack that disrupted customer access to its billing and payment platform.
American Water, based in Camden, New Jersey, also operates water and wastewater services about 1,700 communities in 14 states and 18 US military bases, it says on its website that it is the largest water utility in the US and serves more than 14 million people.
It said in a release that it detected “unauthorized activity” on its computer networks and systems on Thursday, Oct. 3, and shut down its systems to protect data and prevent further damage.
“American Water recently learned of unauthorized activity on our computer networks and systems that we determined was the result of a cybersecurity incident,” the company said. “As part of our response, we have taken our customer portal service, MyWater, offline, meaning we are suspending payment until further notice. We are working hard to bring our systems back online safely and securely.”
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American Water said its operations and services have not been disrupted by the cyber attack that led to it taking down its customer portal. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“Our dedicated team of experts is working around the clock to investigate the nature and scope of the incident. We deeply regret any disruption this incident may have caused and are working diligently to repair and bring these systems back online in a safe and secure manner,” added American Water.
| A ticker | Security | Finally | Change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWK | AMERICAN WATER WORKS CO. INC. | 137.39 | +0.40 |
+0.29% |
The company said it has implemented its incident response procedures and brought in third-party cybersecurity experts to “assist in containing, mitigating and investigating the extent and nature of the incident.”
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Earlier this year, the Biden administration and the EPA warned states about cyberattacks on water utilities after an Iran-linked group attacked a water facility in Pennsylvania. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
American Water adds that law enforcement information and is “cooperating fully” with them in responding to a cyber incident.
The company said on its website that it does not believe that there is water or contaminated water or operations affected in this incident, and that the water is safe to drink.
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American Water said its water is safe to drink despite the cyberattack. (iStock / Stock)
Customers will not face late fees or turn off services while American Water’s MyWater payment portal is offline.
American Water manages more than 500 water and wastewater systems across the country that handle and deliver more than a billion gallons of water per day.
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Countries where American Water operates include the home state of New JerseyPennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, California and Hawaii.
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