Cyberattack Disrupts Albemarle County Operations in Virginia, Internet Shut Down to Contain Threat

Government operations in Albemarle County, Virginia—home to Charlottesville and the University of Virginia—were disrupted following a cybersecurity incident detected earlier in the week of June 9, 2025. On June 12, county officials disclosed the event publicly, confirming that internet access was intentionally severed at key government buildings, including offices on McIntire Road and Fifth Street. The breach prompted immediate containment measures by internal IT staff and third-party cybersecurity experts. Law enforcement at the state and federal levels has been notified. While phone systems and emergency services remain operational, public-facing functions have experienced delays, and some digital services are temporarily offline.

Though officials have not disclosed whether sensitive data was accessed, they continue to assess the full scope of the intrusion. Early voting ahead of Virginia’s June primary elections was unaffected, and county buildings remain open. The incident also led to the cancellation of a June 16 virtual public session on data center regulations, highlighting the broader civic impact. Experts suggest the attack likely targeted data or ransom, part of a wider pattern of digital threats facing local governments nationwide.

This incident adds Albemarle County to a growing list of U.S. counties hit by cyberattacks in 2025, including systems in Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. While Albemarle’s rapid containment may have prevented a more profound crisis, cybersecurity professionals stress that these events reflect escalating risks to critical infrastructure at the county level. As local governments digitize services, vulnerabilities persist due to budget constraints, limited IT staffing, and the increasingly stealthy tactics of threat actors.