Anne Arundel County, Maryland, confirmed that unauthorized actors accessed government computer systems and copied files during a breach discovered on August 28. County officials launched an investigation into the incident, which affected a limited number of systems. Authorities are currently reviewing the stolen files to determine whether any data related to county residents was compromised. The county notified federal law enforcement and other government agencies about the breach. The Baltimore suburb is home to over 600,000 residents and hosts numerous federal agencies, including the Defense Department and Internal Revenue Service.
The Rhysida ransomware gang claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened to release 2.6 terabytes of stolen documents unless a $2 million ransom was paid. This marks the second cyberattack on Anne Arundel County in recent years, following a separate ransomware incident last year. Rhysida has targeted multiple government entities worldwide, including cities in Seattle and Columbus, and Kuwait’s Finance Ministry. County officials noted an increase in cybercrimes targeting state and local governments, with several municipalities across the United States experiencing service disruptions from cyberattacks in recent weeks.
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