Pittsburg offers free credit monitoring, ID theft protection following security breach

PITTSBURG — Following a reported security breach in August 2024 that affected a portion of the city’s computer system, the city announced Wednesday that it is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection for those who may have been affected.

Those who “have a connection” to the city or are worried about their personal data due to the incident will now be able to access the free services for 12 months through the company Experian, which describes itself as a “trusted platform for money management, credit education, and identity protection.”

After an apparent security breach was first detected on Aug. 18, 2024, the city shut down its entire system as soon as its internal software triggered an alert.

The reported cyber attack hindered access to the Pittsburg City Council agenda and minutes page, where members of the public can view past and upcoming agendas and staff reports through an external platform called Onbase Web.

As a result of the disruption, the city could not broadcast the council’s Aug. 19, 2024, meeting live. The city said it worked with external cybersecurity specialists to secure its systems and thoroughly assess the situation.

“Although the incident was quickly resolved and the city’s network secured, the investigation into potentially involved data is ongoing,” the city said in a statement on Wednesday.

City Manager Garrett Evans said a security team is working on the matter and recommended offering the free resources for residents.

“We have no evidence of anything (data) out there, but we’re being prudent on this,” said Evans.

The city said it will contact individuals whose personal information was involved once the investigation is complete.

For those concerned, residents can call 855-260-7533 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.pittsburgca.gov/securityincident.

“The city values the trust of its residents, employees, and partners and encourages them to contact the call center with any questions or concerns,” the city stated.