FBI investigating after Berryville hit by hacker

BERRYVILLE — The town has been victimized by an online theft.

Town Manager Keith Dalton brought up the incident at a council meeting Tuesday night.

Dalton said a hacker remotely accessed a town computer in August and used it to withdraw money from Berryville’s checking account at the Bank of Clarke County.

The hacker was able to gain access through an individual computer terminal.

“We became aware of it fairly quickly,” Dalton said.

The town contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is handling the case.

“They were very helpful,” he said.

According to Dalton, the money taken is covered by insurance, and it doesn’t appear that town residents need to worry about their private information.

“We are not aware of any personal information or bank information being taken,” he said.

Since the theft, Dalton said, town officials have worked closely with consultants to enhance computer security measures with new software and firewalls.

Dalton said he could not release any additional information because he did not want to compromise the investigation.

In other business, at the request of Garrett Boehme of the Shenandoah Valley Young Marines, Mayor Wilson Kirby and the council unanimously voted to make Oct. 23-31 Red Ribbon Week in Berryville.

The Young Marines are promoting the week to raise awareness and win community resistance to drug abuse.

Kirby said the support of the people is the best tool local officials can have in the fight against drug use in the community.

Attending the meeting in the Joint Government Center were Mayor Wilson Kirby and council members Mary Daniel, David Tollett, Harry “Jay” Arnold Jr., H. Allen Kitselman and Douglas Shaffer.

— Contact Val Van Meter at vvanmeter@winchesterstar.com