Cyberattack Disrupts Oregon DEQ, Shuts Down Vehicle Testing
A cyberattack forced the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to shut down its computer networks and all vehicle inspection stations statewide, with closures confirmed through Friday, April 11. The incident was announced Wednesday from DEQ’s headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and is currently under investigation by the state’s Enterprise Information Services and Microsoft’s cybersecurity team. Officials said the shutdown aims to isolate and contain the attack, though the full scope of its impact remains unclear. The DEQ’s online service portal, Your DEQ Online, remains operational as it is hosted separately.
The cyberattack has significantly disrupted agency operations, bringing most office work to a standstill as employees lose access to shared files and internal systems. Although no ransom demands have been received and ransomware has not been confirmed, authorities are treating the situation cautiously. The attack's origin and nature remain under investigation, and no compromised data has yet been disclosed. This marks a serious disruption to environmental services in Oregon, with ongoing risk assessments and containment efforts expected to extend into next week.