The Town of Lynnfield was notified that its emergency notification provider OnSolve CodeRED that the platform was taken offline due to a report of a data breach. Lynnfield is among thousands of government and public safety organizations that contract with OnSolve CodeRED for this service and whose subscribers may be affected. Please be aware you have signed up for CodeRED alerts through the Town website, you may be affected by a potential data breach.
What happened?
OnSolve CodeRED, which the Town and its water districts uses for emergency alerts, was the victim of a targeted cyber-attack by an organized cybercriminal group.
Whose information is in CodeRED’s database?
Residential landline telephones receive CodeRED messages. Town businesses or individuals who want to receive emergency notifications on their cell phone must register for CodeRED on their own.
Was my user data affected?
Initially, there was no indication that user data had been compromised. We were informed this weekend that data was removed from the system, including contact information of CodeRED users, such as names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and/or associated passwords used to create user profiles for alerts. If you use the same password on CodeRED and other personal or business accounts, you should change the password on your other accounts. You cannot access your CodeRED account at this time.
How will the Town share information if there is an emergency?
If there is a local emergency, please follow updates on the Town’s website at lynnfieldma.gov, the Town Facebook page, or from local media outlets.
Does this impact 9-1-1?
No. CodeRED is a standalone notification system that is separate from the 9-1-1 system.
I’ve changed my password. Is there anything else I should do?
- Recognize that CodeRED may not be operational for the short-term. Please watch the outlets listed above for emergency updates.
- Contact CodeRED at (866) 939-0911 if you have further questions but be patient as the company is in the middle of an emergency.
- Although the Town and its water districts contract with CodeRED and we are doing what we can to provide information to residents, it is important to understand that CodeRED is a separate entity, and the Town is not involved with their operations.
Unfortunately, rising cybersecurity threats and data breaches have affected many organizations. Protecting yourself involves a combination of good practices and awareness.
Here are some steps you can take:
- Use strong, unique passwords and change them regularly. Consider using an encrypted password manager to generate and store strong passwords.
- Enable two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security.
- Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious emails.
- Stay up to date on software updates to protect against the latest security vulnerabilities.
- Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware software.
- Be mindful when using public WiFi.
- Regularly back-up important data.
We know these types of messages are concerning. By keeping you informed, we hope to provide you with the knowledge and tools to protect your data and stay vigilant against potential threats.
