Taos County, New Mexico, Grapples With Disruptive Ransomware Attack
A ransomware attack first detected on June 5 has severely disrupted government operations in Taos County. The incident, which occurred in Taos, New Mexico, initially shut down key departments, including the treasurer’s, assessor’s, clerk’s office, and the Adult Detention Center, leaving computer systems inoperable. County Manager Brent Jaramillo initially cited “technical difficulties” and declined to confirm a cyberattack. However, on July 1, he acknowledged the disruption was caused by a “sophisticated cyberattack.”
While core services have begun to recover, the broader impact continues to affect the community. Court operations in Taos remain slowed, with judges and public defenders forced to rely on manual processes due to disconnected digital systems. Real estate activity has also stalled, halting property transfers and affecting local livelihoods. Frustrated residents have raised concerns about the potential misuse of stolen data amid limited public communication. Cybersecurity analysts have linked the attack to Kairos, a Russian-affiliated hacking group that specializes in stealing and extorting data rather than encrypting it. The attackers reportedly exfiltrated nearly 2 terabytes of sensitive files, including legal and abuse-related documents.