South Carolina Local Governments Hit by Massive Cyberattacks in 2025, Exposing Over 500,000 Residents’ Data In 2025, nearly a dozen local government offices and agencies across South Carolina fell victim to cyberattacks, compromising the personal information of more than 500,000 residents and resulting in the theft of public funds. Among the affected entities were Laurens School District 56, Spartanburg County, the city of Inman, and the Greer Commission of Public Works, with one breach alone exposing data for over 14,000 individuals. In December, the city of Westminster confirmed a separate attack in which hackers stole money, though officials did not disclose the amount. The incidents highlight persistent vulnerabilities in state and local cybersecurity, particularly among smaller municipalities with limited resources. State officials, including leaders at the South Carolina Center for Cybersecurity established by Governor Henry McMaster warn that delayed investments in cybersecurity exacerbate risks. The Department of Behavioral Health alone requested $24 million to modernize its systems, while other agencies sought funding for IT upgrades and workforce development. Experts emphasize that cyber threats often exploit human error rather than technical weaknesses, making employee training and awareness critical. The state is working to build a sustainable cybersecurity workforce pipeline, modeled after South Carolina’s success in developing workers for the automotive industry. However, budget constraints and competing priorities frequently push cybersecurity spending to the back burner until an attack occurs. The attacks underscore the growing sophistication of cybercriminals, who target both large and small organizations with equal intensity. While larger agencies may have more robust defenses, smaller towns often lack the resources to implement adequate protections, leaving them particularly vulnerable. The financial and reputational damage from these breaches serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of cyber threats and the need for proactive measures.