Washington County emergency alert system is victim of cyberattack

The Washington County Sheriff s Office says it is moving away from its CodeRED urgency system following latest cyberattacks and material breaches nationwide CodeRED is a critical notification system used to deliver time-sensitive alerts during severe weather events general safety threats and other emergencies CodeRED has communicated that information such as names addresses email addresses phone numbers and possibly passwords for profiles may have been compromised If the same password is used by system users for any other personal or business accounts those passwords should be changed instantly county leaders disclosed During this transition partner agencies with crisis alerting capabilities will issue inhabitants alerts on Washington County s behalf The county is encouraging residents who use the system to do the following Change any usernames or passwords to other personal or business accounts similar to those used for CodeRED profiles Ensure Crisis Alerts are turned on in phone settings Follow Washington County Sheriff s Office and local populace safety agencies on social media Maintain multiple techniques to receive alerts such as NOAA Weather Radio and local news outlets The county reported CodeRED has published there is no evidence that any user information has been used to carry out identity theft or fraud Related Articles Protesters gather as federal agents take man into custody at St Paul home St Paul Woman critically injured after driver strikes her and husband in crosswalk Q A St Paul police chief on goals met and unmet and relationships with mayor and mayor-elect Ice safety is crucial any time but especially right after freeze-up Stillwater prison The DOC is testing earned living units prior to closure