Oxfordshire councils take websites offline over global issue

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 13:03 · Archive

Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have taken their websites offline as a precaution while investigating a 'known issue, affecting websites globally'. Accessing the county site produces an error and a Google warning that 'attackers might be trying to steal your information'. The city council's site displays a message saying it is 'closed for maintenance'.

The county authority's website normally provides access to parking and traffic filter permits, library accounts, care and community support information. The city's website is used for paying council tax and business rates, planning applications, housing services and bin collections. Both councils have said the situation is not a cyber incident but relates to a worldwide problem with underlying technology.

Oxford City Council said residents can still contact the authority by phone on 01865 249 811. Oxfordshire County Council said it would provide updates via its WhatsApp channel. Neither council has given a timescale for when their websites will return to normal service.

How it is being reported

• Oxfordshire councils offline indefinitely amid 'global issue'Oxfordshire County Council has been taken offline while it investigates a "known issue, affecting websites globally".Oxfordshire Guardian · 21 Oct, 12:30
• Oxfordshire councils offline indefinitely amid 'global issue'Oxfordshire County Council has been taken offline while it investigates a "known issue, affecting websites globally".Oxford Mail · 21 Oct, 12:30

In this story: Oxfordshire County Council · Oxford City Council · Oxfordshire · Oxford

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