This week, recovering from a cyber attack, electronic surveillance, and digital license plates. We'll also hear about how cryptocurrency investors may have just lost millions of dollars, and a hedgehog inspired football helmet.

***Please note: This show is now available as a podcast on Apple and Android devices. To find out how, follow these links: Apple, or Android. 

Former Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic won't run against current Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan in the Democratic primary, but he says he's thinking about running in the general election--as an Independent.

Listen here to this live, exclusive interview on the Ray Horner Show.

This week, hackers making headlines again, with a Cyber attack on the City of Akron, and out in California; sending scary messages through home security systems. We’ll also learn about a new super adhesive inspired by Gecko feet, drones that can fill potholes, and toasty new technology that can keep you warm even on the coldest days of winter.

***Please note: This show is now available as a podcast on Apple and Android devices. To find out how, follow these links: Apple, or Android

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan is responding to the possibility that former Mayor Don Plusquellic might run against him, noting in part that Plusquellic's "bitterness and stale personal feudes with council members, the local paper, and even federal decision makers poisoned his ability to lead the city".But he says, he says he's "proud of the reinvigorated energy and strategic focus" of his administration, and that he "welcomes the opportunity to compare his record and vision against any challenger."

Plusquellic told the Akron Beacon Journal he's considering a run for the job he held for 28 years. But, if he plans to challenge Horrigan in the May Primary; he's got until next Wednesday, February 6th, to file with the Board of Elections.

The City of Akron is still dealing with last week's cyber attack, letting residents know some systems are still off line, as they try to make sure all their equipment is free of the virus that took down part of the city's network.

The City’s online 3-1-1 portal is currently unavailable, but the 3-1-1 phone system is working for both landlines and cell phone users.

City phone systems and AkronOhio.gov are functioning, but the city email system has been greatly affected. Residents are urged to contact city departments by phone if they need assistance.

More details below from City Press Release:

City of Akron Continues Work To Remediate Malicious Virus
Some City services will be temporarily affected

Akron, Ohio, January 28, 2019 – The City of Akron is continuing its efforts to combat malicious cyber activity. These ongoing mitigation efforts are resulting in software and hardware disruptions to certain City platforms.

The City was first alerted to this malicious cyber activity on Tuesday, January 22nd through an unsuccessful attempt to access city funds. Over the weekend, the joint City, State and Federal team of IT and cyber security professionals worked to contain the malicious cyber activity and placed the City of Akron in a strong defensible position to begin proper remediation of the virus. The remediation process will evolve and remain constantly fluid, and it will ultimately require some city business systems to be taken offline temporarily. However, all vital systems related to public safety, including 9-1-1 and police/fire dispatch, are secure and remain fully operational.

The City still does not have any intelligence that suggests any personal information of our customers, taxpayers, or citizens was harvested. There is no indication that there is any risk to public safety.

Despite lack of access to some systems, the City of Akron government is open for business and operational. Mayor Horrigan has tasked the joint IT team with prioritizing our customer-facing systems to minimize the impact on customer interactions and public services.

Current impacts to the public include:

The City’s online 3-1-1 portal is currently unavailable, but the 3-1-1 phone system is working for both landlines and cell phone users.

City phone systems and www.AkronOhio.gov are functioning, but the city email system has been greatly affected. Residents are urged to contact city departments by phone if they need assistance. Citizens may also call 311 / (330) 375-2311 to be connected to the correct department. City employees currently don’t have access to emails.

Certain software and hardware systems are unavailable within the Akron Municipal Court, but the court is still functioning.

Online payment systems may be temporarily available.
Credit card payments are unavailable to the public in certain city departments, including Recreation, Building, and Tax. Tax payments can be mailed to City of Akron Income Tax Division, 1 Cascade Plaza - 11th Floor, Akron, OH  44308-1100.
For water/sewer utility bill payments, customers can:
Mail payment to Akron Utilities Business Office, PO Box 3674, Akron, Ohio 44309-3674, or
Visit the office at 146 South High Street, Room 211, Akron, Ohio 44308-1894 for personal assistance.

Late fees and penalties will not be assessed for customers who are unable to make a timely payment due to a payment system being unavailable. Utility service will not be disconnected due to late or non-payment until electronic payment processes are accessible and functioning.

The City of Akron will continue to send out pertinent updates to keep the public informed. We thank the public for their ongoing patience as we work to address this malicious activity. For the most up to date information, please follow the City of Akron on Facebook and Twitter.

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The National Center for Missing & Exploited children asking for your help locating 17 year old Khiajah Habeen Ullah who's been missing from her home in Mansfield, since November 17th. 

They say She may still be in the local area or she may have traveled to Akron, OH.

She is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about Khiajah is asked to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST) or the Mansfield City Police Department at 1-419-522-1234.

NCMEC Poster: http://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1324668/1/screen

Harvest time in Akron, as the city's first licensed medical marijuana growing facility opened its doors yesterday, to show off their new buds.

AT-CPC, unveiled their new "Mimosa" and "Cuyahoga River" cannabis strains, which they will be used in medical marijuana products sold under the brand names "Song Wellness", and "Josh D".

Local officials, including Congressman Tim Ryan (pictured below) toured the facility at 1055 Home Avenue, in Akron's North Hill neighborhood.

Eight members of the The Ohio National Guard Cyber defense team are helping the City of Akron deal with the financially motivated atttack on its computer network that started last Tuesday.

The National Guard Cyber team provides defensive operations, forensic support, and analyisis, and was authorized for duty in Akron by Governor Mike Dewine. 

In addition to the National Guard team, the City of Akron is also obtaining assistance from the FBI, and Ohio State Patrol.

So far, they have not reported that any data was lost, or that the personal information of Akron residents has been compromised. 

Related story: City of Akron Hit by Cyber Attack 

The City of Akron is in the process of mitigating the damage from a malicious cyber intrusion they say was financially motivated.

They first noticed the unusual criminal virus activity on city computer systems on Tuesday, just as they were trying to dig the city out from this winter's worst snow storm so far.

City officials say they called in the F.B.I. Ntaional Guard, and Ohio State Patrol to help. They've also taken some computers offline, and are limiting the use of credit card payments for some city services.

More details from City of Akron press release below:

City of Akron Mitigating Attempted Malicious Cyber Activity 

Akron, Ohio, January 25, 2019—The City of Akron is investigating and mitigating criminal virus activity on City servers, which appears to be financially-motivated. On Tuesday, January 22nd, an attempt to access City funds was successfully identified, intercepted and prevented.  The City has taken swift and substantial protective action to limit the impact of this activity and protect City assets and information. The City does not have any intelligence at this time that suggests any personal information of our customers, taxpayers, or citizens was harvested. Current intelligence does not indicate any risk to public safety or any motivation to cause harm to the public.  Over the coming days, a joint city, state, and federal team will work to eradicate this malicious activity and maintain operational City services.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 22^nd, the City of Akron Office of Information Technology became aware of suspicious activity on the City’s network.  The Akron Police Department was notified and immediate action was taken to investigate the problem and limit proliferation of any malicious software. This swift action required the City Office of Information Technology to temporarily shut down and protect critical software and hardware systems, including the City’s online 3-1-1 system. 

By the morning of Wednesday, January 23^rd, the City had engaged the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ohio State Highway Patrol to assist in the investigation and interdiction efforts.  Through that work, it was determined that this event merited additional resources, so the City contacted the Chief Information Security Officer for the State of the Ohio for activation of the 172^nd Cyber Security Protection Team of the Ohio National Guard. This morning, at Mayor Horrigan’s request, Governor Mike DeWine authorized the deployment of this elite unit to assist in bringing a swift and thorough end to the malicious activity. 

Over the coming days, the joint city, state, and federal team will work together to eradicate and mitigate this activity and restore operational services. This process may require additional software and hardware system to be taken offline, which will likely impact certain city operations.  The City will communicate with the public in advance if we anticipate any major disruptions to city services or public access to online systems.

While mitigation efforts are evolving rapidly, current impacts include:

• Certain software and hardware systems being unavailable within the Akron Municipal Court, which is requiring the temporary use of traditional recording devices and files;
• Credit card payments being unavailable to the public in certain city departments, including Recreation, Building, and Tax.  Credit card payments continue to be available in the Utility Billing Office for payment of water/sewer utility bills. 
• Certain internal City computers being relocated for forensic analysis.

In the coming weeks and months, investigators will conduct thorough forensic analysis to determine the full extent of the breach.  While current intelligence suggests that no personal information of City customers or tax-paying residents was harvested, investigation and mitigation efforts are ongoing, and any meaningful change in this intelligence will be promptly communicated to the public. 

“The Digital Age brings with it constant and ever-changing threats and we must remain vigilant and prepared,” Mayor Horrigan said.  “While this incident is ongoing, all current intelligence indicates that we were well-equipped and well-trained to address this malicious attack and that our employees took timely and appropriate action to prevent an attempted theft.  Public institutions across the nation often are of particular interest to criminal actors, which is why the city has invested more than $9 million since 2016 in citywide IT infrastructure and maintenance. We will continue to monitor our systems and make necessary investments to protect public assets and citizen information.” 

“I want to thank our Office of Information Technology staff, City/County CIO Mark Petit, APD, and members of my staff whose quick and decisive action helped us to limit the impact of this incident,” Mayor Horrigan continued.  “Additionally, I want to thank Governor DeWine, the F.B.I., the Ohio National Guard and Ohio State Highway Patrol for the care and expertise they have brought to the situation. Rest assured, we are doing all we can, deploying every resource and partnering with every agency with expertise to protect our critical city infrastructure from criminal activity.”

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This week, a new program to support software development in Akron, Microsoft trying make Seattle a more affordable place to live, big changes in automotive technology, and some exciting new medical tech that could save lives. We’ll also hear about a soundproof dog kennel, and a solar-powered classic rock song that goes on, and on, and on…..

***Please note: This show is now available as a podcast on Apple and Android devices. To find out how, follow these links: Apple, or Android