The city of Abilene, Texas, recently experienced a cyberattack that led to the shutdown of some of its systems. The city’s IT team discovered the breach when they were alerted to unresponsive servers within the city’s internal network on Friday. In response, systems were disconnected to prevent further damage, and cybersecurity experts were brought in to investigate the incident. While this disruption affected various systems, emergency services remained operational, and there were no reports of financial fraud.
As a result of the attack, certain payment systems were rendered inoperable, forcing residents to pay in cash or check. However, the city reassured residents that utility services would not be interrupted due to overdue bills, and payments could still be made online with credit or debit cards. Due to the ongoing restoration efforts, city officials warned that some services, including phone support and email responses, would experience delays. The IT team has been working to monitor for unusual activity and restore affected systems.
City officials are also reviewing the scope of the attack, which is expected to be a lengthy process. They have provided emergency contact numbers for water-related issues and other urgent matters while assuring residents that they are working diligently to address the situation. However, the city did not comment on whether this attack involved ransomware or if federal authorities had been notified. In recent years, Texas cities like Dallas and Fort Worth have been plagued by similar cyber incidents.
Cyberattacks have become a growing concern across Texas, with multiple local governments experiencing breaches this year. In response to the rising threat, Governor Greg Abbott announced the establishment of the Texas Cyber Command, aimed at proactively addressing and mitigating cyber risks. Abbott emphasized the urgent need for the state to address cybersecurity challenges and prepare for future attacks through coordinated efforts.
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