Farmington City Website Targeted in Suspicious Activity

Farmington, Mo. (KFMO) - Authorities are investigating a security breach involving the City of Farmington’s website after a suspicious video and text appeared online Thursday evening.

According to the Farmington Police Department, the incident was reported at approximately 7:45 p.m. on March 20. The city's Information Technology and Police Departments immediately launched an investigation and successfully removed the unauthorized content within the hour.

Officials believe the breach originated from a cyberattack on the website’s hosting company, Munission. In an email to city officials, a Munission representative confirmed the hack, stating they had restored the site from an earlier version and removed the compromised account. The company assured that an internal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the breach.

City officials emphasized that the unauthorized content did not reflect the beliefs or values of Farmington and apologized to anyone who viewed the material.

Residents who notice suspicious online activity related to city platforms are encouraged to report it to the Farmington Information Technology Department at 573-454-2617 or the Farmington Police Department at 573-760-7111.