A former cybersecurity executive from a firm contracted to aid Hamilton in recovering from a cyberattack in 2024 has been apprehended by the FBI. However, the company asserts that he was not involved in the work performed for the city.
The individual, Ed Dubrovsky, who previously held the position of managing director at CYPFER, was taken into custody in Philadelphia this month. Allegations tie him to ShinyHunters, a cybercrime hacking group.
In response to queries, the company stated that Dubrovsky had no part in the Hamilton project. According to their records, Dubrovsky was not engaged in that specific case, as it was managed by CYPFER’s delivery team.
FBI Director Kash Patel previously labeled the arrested individual as a “suspected co-conspirator” in a cyberattack affecting FBIjobs.gov in a social media post. Legal documents detail two charges against Dubrovsky, including conspiracy and interference with commerce through threats.
The accusations remain unproven in court.
Dubrovsky served as the managing director of CYPFER from May 2022 to December 2025. Hamilton enlisted the firm as a technical advisor following the ransomware incident in February 2024, contracting them through the city’s legal representatives.
The breach caused a shutdown of various city services, such as phone lines, council operations, and public facilities like the bus schedule app and library WiFi. No personal data was compromised, according to city officials.
The attackers demanded $18.5 million for unlocking the city’s systems, but Hamilton refused to comply.
City’s Efforts to Enhance Security
By June 30, 2025, the city had allocated approximately $18.3 million for immediate response, system recovery, and third-party support. As of March 2026, $22.9 million of the approved $47.7 million was utilized or earmarked to address vulnerabilities exposed by the attack.
CYPFER clarified that Dubrovsky had no association with the company after his departure in 2025.
