Nevada stays two days right into a cyberattack that started early Sunday, disrupting authorities web sites, telephone programs, and on-line platforms, and forcing all state places of work to shut on Monday.
The affect of the assault was first felt on Sunday morning, with the Governor’s Know-how Workplace stating {that a} ‘community concern’ started round 1:52 AM PT, affecting the state’s IT programs.
The Governor’s Know-how Workplace warned that web sites, on-line companies, and telephone traces might be sluggish or unavailable as groups labored to revive service.
“Our groups are actively working to revive regular service,” the company stated.
Whereas the company continued to publish updates concerning the restoration course of, Governor Lombardo finally introduced the closing of all state workplace places on Monday.
Later that afternoon, the Governor’s workplace confirmed in a press assertion to BleepingComputer that the State of Nevada suffered a cybersecurity incident.
“On early Sunday morning, the State of Nevada recognized a community safety incident and instantly engaged in 24/7 restoration efforts. The matter is underneath energetic investigation,” reads an announcement posted on X and shared with the press.
“Because the State continues its restoration efforts, the community safety incident continues to affect the supply of sure state know-how programs on the state community. Some state web sites or telephone traces could also be sluggish or briefly unavailable throughout restoration.”
“The State is targeted on restoring companies safely and validating programs earlier than returning them to regular operation.”
Though the web sites and on-line companies are unavailable, 911 and emergency companies stay unaffected by the assault.
The state has not responded to BleepingComputer’s query about whether or not ransomware is concerned. Nonetheless, extended disruptions like this are sometimes related to such assaults, the place IT programs are taken offline to comprise the affect.
The state has additionally said that there isn’t any proof to counsel that personally identifiable data has been stolen right now. Nonetheless, if it had been a ransomware assault, then even when safety defenses prevented the encryption of gadgets, the risk actors seemingly had prolonged entry to the community to steal information.
Cyberattacks on authorities companies typically trigger important disruption however not often result in ransom funds, finally backfiring on attackers by leaving them empty-handed and underneath better regulation enforcement stress.
The Nevada authorities is now working with native, tribal, and federal companies to research and reply to the assault.
The Governor’s workplace is warning residents to be cautious of unsolicited calls or emails asking for delicate data.