Computer virus cripples Riverside police, fire server

RIVERSIDE — The City of Riverside said it is the victim of a computer virus that currently has certain police staff unable to access about a year's worth of files.

In a phone conversation Monday afternoon, City Manager Mark Carpenter confirmed the malware infection came in early last week, and initially appeared to be an "email fax."

The virus is still under investigation, but Carpenter said a Riverside police and fire server has, at present, lost about a year's worth of files.

Carpenter says the city is currently working with two outside companies to recover the data, some of which is backed up by hard copies.

No citizen personal information is at risk as a result of the virus, Carpenter said.

He added that the city did not pay money as is often the case in ransomware attacks.

Carpenter said the city should know within a few days how likely it is that the city will able to recover the missing files.