A cybersecurity incident on August 2019 in the U.S. state of Texas in which about 23 entities connected to smaller local governments where hit by a ransomware attack had led to the launch of an investigation into the matter by the state government.
According to a statement by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), which is leading the response to the cyberattack, the evidence gathered indicates the attacks came from one single threat actor.
According to the DIR, Twenty-three entities have been confirmed as impacted. Responders are actively working with these entities to bring their systems back online. The State of Texas systems and networks have not been impacted by the ransomware attack.
Officials did not release specific details of the affected departments or say whether the criminals had specified a ransom amount. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that cyber-criminals use to disable a computer and its data until a ransom is paid.
Hackers have targeted a number of US states this year, paralysing government computers in New York, Maryland and Florida. In May, hackers seized control of thousands of government computers in Baltimore.