Alabama Hit by Cyberattack: Government Websites Temporarily Disabled

Charles M. Walls | March 16, 2024 | Views: 398

On Tuesday, Alabama's state government experienced a cyberattack, leading to the temporary shutdown of numerous agency websites. This denial-of-service (DDoS) attack overloaded the websites with fraudulent traffic, causing them to become inaccessible.

The primary entities affected were the Alabama Supercomputer Authority, the Office of Information Technology (OIT), and the State of Alabama itself. The attack commenced Tuesday afternoon, with website functionalities being impaired throughout the day. Recovery efforts are underway, but some websites may remain sluggish.

Officials confirmed there has been no data breach, ensuring the security of state computers and confidential information. The hacker group Anonymous Sudan has claimed responsibility via a Telegram post, stating their intent to highlight the plight of Sudan and protest the US's support for Israel. The group's connections and motivations remain speculative, but it is noted for its public declarations of cyber activities.

In addition to this state-wide disruption, Birmingham, Alabama's largest city, is grappling with its cyber issues affecting municipal services. Despite the establishment of a cybersecurity operations center in 2018 aimed at protecting state agencies, Alabama continues to face cyber challenges. While DDoS attacks are not highly sophisticated, their disruptive potential is significant, underscoring the need for effective cybersecurity measures.