Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

SecurityWeekSecurityWeek

Cybercrime

Transportation Agency Hacked in 2nd Texas Government Attack

Texas’ transportation agency has become the second part of the state government to be hit by a ransomware attack in recent days.

On Thursday, someone hacked into the Texas Department of Transportation’s network in a “ransomware event,” according to a statement the department posted on social media Friday.

Texas’ transportation agency has become the second part of the state government to be hit by a ransomware attack in recent days.

On Thursday, someone hacked into the Texas Department of Transportation’s network in a “ransomware event,” according to a statement the department posted on social media Friday.

The departments’ website says some features are unavailable due to technical difficulties, but it is not clear what functions were affected by the attack. Agency officials did not respond to emailed questions Sunday.

The hack comes days after another ransomware attack took down the websites and case management systems of Texas’ appellate and high courts. The courts and transportation agency both said they are working with the FBI to investigate.

Hackers use ransomware to invade computer systems and encrypt files in an effort to extort payments to unlock them.

Upon detecting the hack, staff at the transportation department “immediately” isolated the affected parts of the network and “shut down further unauthorized access,” according to the statement. James Bass, the department’s executive director, said his staff is “working to ensure critical operations continue during this interruption.″ The hacks follow a ransomware attack of unprecedented size that hit more than 20 local governments in Texas last summer.

Related: ATM Maker Diebold Nixdorf Hit by Ransomware

Related: Railway Vehicle Maker Stadler Hit by Malware Attack

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Related: Ransomware Is Mostly Deployed After Hours: Report

Related: Human-Operated Ransomware Is a Growing Threat to Businesses: Microsoft

Written By

Click to comment

Trending

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts.

Learn how the LOtL threat landscape has evolved, why traditional endpoint hardening methods fall short, and how adaptive, user-aware approaches can reduce risk.

Watch Now

Join the summit to explore critical threats to public cloud infrastructure, APIs, and identity systems through discussions, case studies, and insights into emerging technologies like AI and LLMs.

Register

People on the Move

Jessica Newman has joined Sophos as General Manager of Global Cyber Insurance.

Breach and attack simulation solutions provider AttackIQ has appointed Pete Luban as Field Chief Information Security Officer.

Matthew Cowell has assumed the role of VP of Strategic Alliances at Nozomi Networks. He previously served in the same role at Dragos.

More People On The Move

Expert Insights

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest cybersecurity news, threats, and expert insights. Unsubscribe at any time.