On August 4, 2024, Central Texas’ 911 call system was hit by a disruptive cyberattack, causing significant outages across the region. The Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), responsible for managing the system, confirmed that the attack was a denial-of-service (DoS) assault in which hackers inundated call centers with robocalls. This attack led to technical difficulties in major areas including Austin, Cedar Park, Hays County, and Lakeway, affecting the region’s ability to respond to emergency calls promptly.
The attack began around 1 p.m., with CAPCOG being alerted by Round Rock’s 911 call center. The malicious robocalls, traced back to AT&T numbers, overwhelmed the system, leading CAPCOG to coordinate with the telecom giant to halt the influx. By 8 p.m., normal operations were restored after successfully disconnecting the disruptive calls. Betty Voights, CAPCOG’s executive director, stated that efforts are underway to work with AT&T to bolster defenses against such attacks and prevent future occurrences.
The cyberattack disrupted services for 21 law enforcement and emergency response agencies within CAPCOG’s 10-county jurisdiction, including the Austin Police Department, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, and several other local police and fire departments. This widespread impact underscores the critical nature of reliable emergency communication systems and the potential risks posed by cyber threats.
This incident comes on the heels of previous security concerns involving AT&T, including a major 2022 breach and another earlier this year that exposed millions of customer records. CAPCOG has reported the attack to federal authorities, adhering to guidelines for such incidents. The ongoing collaboration with AT&T and other stakeholders aims to enhance cybersecurity measures and ensure that emergency services remain resilient against future cyber threats.
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