Texas is currently hit with an 'unprecedented' of ransomware
attacks that has significantly focused on local government entities in the
state, with at least 23 impacted by the attacks.
The attacks which seem to have been led by a single threat
actor are said to have of begun in the morning of August 16. It is additionally
presumed that 23 may not be the final count considering that right now the
details are at 'a minimum' with the Department of Information Resources (DIR),
who is leading the investigation into the attacks.
The local Texas authorities, like the DIR, Texas Division of
Emergency Management, and Texas Military Department are still investigating the
origin of the attack, also involved are the federal agencies such as the
Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation – Cyber, and
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In its original statement released on late Friday, DIR says
that while investigations regarding the origins of the attack are continuous,
their principle need is to aid the response and recuperation of 'affected
entities'.
DIR is driving the reaction to what it calls a
"coordinated ransomware attack" however does not unveil which
organizations are affected. This is a result of security concerns involving the
matter.
In an updated statement on Saturday, DIR said that the
frameworks and systems of the State of Texas have not been influenced by this
attack. Until more details rise, the strain of file-encrypting malware, which
is said to be the one responsible for the attack as well as the perpetrator(s)
ransom demand, still remains very unclear.
