Washburn County announced it is responding to a cyberattack that occurred around 4 a.m. Thursday, affecting multiple government operations. County IT staff initiated established response procedures and implemented steps intended to protect systems and data upon detecting unusual activity. Authorities said they do not yet know who is responsible for the incident or what systems were targeted, and they are awaiting additional analysis from cybersecurity specialists.
In coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the county is investigating the intrusion and assessing its impacts. As part of containment measures, the county shut down operations tied to the internet, which has disrupted phone and email communications. Officials advised that the court system remains unaffected because it operates on a separate server environment.
With online systems limited, the county asked the public to use 911 for any needed contact so dispatchers can route information to the appropriate departments. Despite the disruption, county offices remain open for business, and residents may visit in person if they have questions about services or need assistance. There is currently no estimated timeline for when full online operations will resume.
Officials noted that the county’s systems are not connected to water and sewer utilities. The announcement followed national reporting that water and wastewater utilities in a dozen states have experienced cyber incidents in recent months, though there is no indication of any such link in this case. County leaders said they are waiting on further guidance from their cybersecurity team to determine the extent of access and any data exposure.
Updates on the situation will be provided on the county’s website as more information becomes available. Until then, the county will continue to operate with limited online functionality while the investigation and remediation efforts proceed.
