Investigation: Red flags raised months before ransomware attack on City Hall

ATLANTA — One week after a crippling ransomware attack on the city of Atlanta's computer network, a Channel 2 Action News investigation uncovered that over the last year, the city received several warnings about malware on one specific city server.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Aaron Diamant has obtained city emails that show red flags were raised months before the massive cyberattack that is still affecting the city's computer system.

“What we know is that it is extremely related to the current situation today,” Versprite cybersecurity consultant Tony UcedaVelez said.

Diamant showed UcedaVelez an internal city of Atlanta email chain, dating back to last June, documenting IT officials’ response to multiple warnings that a specific city server appeared infected with malware.