In the wake of Hurricane Florence disaster , ONWASA , a water utility company has been specifically targeted by cyber criminals . ONWASA provides water and sewer service to all of Onslow County except Jacksonville residents . According to a press release , ONWASA 's internal computer system , including servers and personal computers , have been subjected to a sophisticated ransomware attack Attack.Ransom . The attack has left the utility with limited computer capabilities . CEO Jeffrey Hudson said customer information was not compromised Attack.Databreach in the attack Attack.Databreach . However , many other databases must be recreated in their entirety . ONWASA is working with the FBI , the Department of Homeland Security , the state of North Carolina and several technology security companies . They are also receiving help from N.C . Senator Harry Brown and N.C . Senator Thom Tillis . Hudson said he believes the attack was a targeted one because the hackers chose a local government that has recently been ransacked by a natural disaster . The hackers struck at 3 a.m. on Saturday -- a time Hudson says was their most vulnerable . The attack is similar in nature to the one experienced in Mecklenburg County last year . Hudson said the damage the attack caused could take weeks or even months to fix . According to ONWASA , the company had multiple layers of computer protection in place , including firewalls and malware/anti-virus software . The defenses of the computer systems at the main office were penetrated . ONWASA has received one email from the cyber criminals , who may be based in a foreign country . The email is consistent with ransomware attacks Attack.Ransom of other governments and corporations . Ransom monies would be used to fund criminal , and perhaps terrorist activities in other countries . There is no expectation that a ransom payment Attack.Ransom would stop future attacks . The cyber attackers are demanding payment Attack.Ransom to decrypt everything that was stolen . ONWASA said it will not `` negotiate with criminals nor bow to their demands Attack.Ransom . '' Instead , ONWASA will rebuild its databases and computer systems from the ground up .