Matagorda County in Texas Declares Disaster After Cyberattack
Matagorda County, Texas, with its seat in Bay City, declared a disaster at 3 PM today following a cyberattack that compromised internal systems early this morning. Officials reported that the breach stemmed from an unauthorized access point, allowing a virus to disrupt county operations. While there is no evidence that residents's personal data was affected, authorities have isolated impacted systems and launched a forensic investigation. The county’s Emergency Operations Center is on high alert, and cybersecurity experts are actively working to secure the network. Judge Bobby Seiferman emphasized the county’s commitment to transparency and system protection as efforts to restore operations continue.
Local authorities are collaborating with the Texas Department of Emergency Management, the Department of Public Safety Cybersecurity Division, and the Department of Informational Service, with the FBI also contacted for support. Although the breach has been contained, officials are still assessing its full scope and origin. This incident highlights the increasing cybersecurity threats faced by local governments, which have been frequent targets of ransomware and data breaches.