RAPID CITY, S.D. — Cybersecurity experts say a foreign adversary could be responsible for the cyberattack that disrupted Pennington County computer systems in July, citing the absence of any public ransom demand and growing threats from nations such as Iran, Russia and China according to reporting from South Dakota NewsWatch.
The attack affected county communications and other computer-based services, though critical operations including 911 dispatch, law enforcement and the courts remained operational.
Federal agencies have recently warned state and local governments of increasing cyber threats to public infrastructure and government networks. The concerns come as officials investigate a separate cyberattack that recently targeted dozens of municipal water systems in Minnesota.
Pennington County has released few details about the incident, saying the investigation remains ongoing. Experts say the attack underscores the growing cybersecurity risks facing local governments and critical public services.
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