Ransomware attack disrupts South Carolina county

South Carolina's Spartanburg County had its IT and phone systems impacted by a ransomware attack, which is already being investigated by county officials alongside law enforcement and a third-party cybersecurity firm, reports The Record, a news site by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. "All essential services continue to operate, including 9-1-1 operations and emergency communications. We will keep the community informed as we have further updates and express our ongoing gratitude for the continued patience and support," said Spartanburg County spokesperson Kay Blackwell. Numerous local government agencies impacted by the incident had their alternative numbers provided by the county but the South Carolina Judicial Branch has emphasized that it had not been compromised. Such an intrusion comes after cyberattacks against the cities of Oakland and Modesto in California and follows a string of ransomware incidents against small local governments in New York, Oregon, Colorado, New Jersey, and other states during the past year.