Union County, Ohio, Confirms Data Breach Affecting 45,587 Individuals in May Ransomware Attack Officials in Ohio’s Union County have disclosed that a May ransomware attack compromised sensitive data belonging to 45,587 individuals, including residents and county employees. The breach, which remains unclaimed by any known threat group, exposed a wide range of personal information, such as Social Security numbers, financial account details, driver’s license numbers, medical records, fingerprint data, and passport numbers. The county notified affected individuals via breach notification letters. The incident is part of a broader surge in cyberattacks targeting state and local governments this year. In June, the town of Waxhaw, North Carolina, confirmed a ransomware attack by the Qilin gang, which resulted in the theft of over 600 GB of data. Other recent victims include Lorain County, Ohio, and the Maryland state government, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities in public sector cybersecurity.

The Town of Waxhaw, North Carolina, experienced a cyber attack on Friday, September 12, targeting its government systems with the intent to cause system disruptions. Hackers gained access to some town servers, but officials confirmed no personal information was stolen, and no emergency services (police, fire) were interrupted. The attack was detected after system irregularities were identified, prompting immediate involvement from the North Carolina Joint Cybersecurity Task Force (including the National Guard and state agencies) to investigate and secure the servers. While critical functions were restored by Monday due to pre-existing emergency preparedness plans and modernized technology, some non-critical services remained impacted, requiring contingency measures. The town continued operating under normal business hours, though specific disrupted services were not disclosed. The attack’s origin or perpetrators remain unknown. Authorities emphasized ongoing collaboration with leading cybersecurity experts to fully restore systems and mitigate further risks.