Dallas County is the latest public authority to be targeted by a cyberattack.
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County Judge Clay Jenkinsissued a statement Monday saying the county was notified of the attack 11 days ago and took steps to contain it.
Jenkins said the county hired an outside cybersecurity firm to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the breach and determine the extent of the impact.
For now, no further details have been revealed about the extent of the breach, and the country's authorities have only said that it affected "a part of its environment."
“Our top priority is the safety and security of our employees, residents and the public we serve. We have put in place strict security protocols to protect our systems and data and are working closely with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to address this situation,” Jenkins said in a statement.
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Jenkins said the county wants to wait until the investigation is complete before sharing any further information about the attack.
“As the investigation continues to evolve, we do not wish to make premature assumptions about the extent of the impact or other details, which may evolve as the process progresses. We value the trust and credibility we have established with our residents and partners and strive to maintain the accuracy of the information we share. The County will provide updates as more information,” Jenkins said.
Common targets of cyberattacks on counties can be varied. One of the most common targets is local government authorities. Cyberattacks can aim to compromise county systems to gain access to sensitive data or to disrupt their services .
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Additionally, cyberattacks can target county infrastructure systems, such as power grids, water networks, and other public infrastructure services. A breach of these systems can have serious consequences for the community, such as power or water outages.
Additionally, cyberattacks can target local telecommunications and transportation networks. A breach of these systems can cause disruption to telecommunications and traffic, directly affecting the daily lives of citizens.
Finally, cyberattacks can target county health and social services systems. A breach of these systems can have serious implications for the delivery of health and social care services to citizens.
Source: nbcdfw
