Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz has revitalized the state’s National Guard after a cyberattack on St. Paul, the state’s capital. City officials have yet to disclose the nature of the cyberattack, but the July 25 violation continues to disrupt the city’s operations and several public services.
St. Paul is one of the largest cities in the United States with over 300,000 residents, and is the latest in a list of major cities targeted by hackers and ransomware gangs in recent years.
In a statement Tuesday, Waltz allowed the National Guard cyber forces at city demands to help St. Paul recover from a cyber attack, saying the “size and complexity” of the violation exceeded the city’s ability to respond to the incident.
The National Guard “helps to ensure the continuity of critical services and the safety and security of the residents of St. Paul,” Walz said.
St. Paul’s Mayor Melvin Carter said at a press conference Tuesday that the city had taken the government system offline to contain intruders.
Carter added that the city does not store much data on its residents, but there is a risk that data about city employees has been stolen.
