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Video: Hackers Bring Down Phoenix PD Internet Access Temporarily

Hackers have attacked the City of Phoenix internet system and over the weekend caused a disruption to the police department's computers. Officers couldn't access data via computers in their cars for 45 minutes.

M Pol Phoenix Hacker

VIDEO: Hackers Bring Down Phoenix PD Internet Access

Hackers have attacked the City of Phoenix internet system and over the weekend caused a disruption to the police department's computers, reports KSAZ.

It's the first time that the hackers were able to overwhelm the city's system.

They say they were able to stop the hackers before they accessed information.

"The city's internet access was down for 45 minutes," said Randall Smith, the city's Chief Security Officer. "At this point we're unclear about any kind of motive or who's attacking us, we don't know," said Smith.

A deputy city manager wrote; "this appears to be a coordinated, denial of service attack."

Then over the weekend a city police memo said because of the hacking officers couldn't access computers in their cars allowing them to access driver's license, license plates, and criminal history information.

"There's always concerns if something happens to our public safety systems the primary communication is the radio with fire and police so they always had communication we are looking closely at that and proactively looking at solutions to minimize future outages such as this," he said.

Smith emphasized the hackers aren't targeting Phoenix Police but are just trying to find any way into the system.

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