Cyber Attack Cripples Passaic County's IT Systems

Officials scrambling to investigate and resolve the malware attack that has disrupted phone lines and other critical technology.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A malware attack has hit the IT systems of Passaic County, New Jersey, causing widespread disruption to phone lines and other critical technology infrastructure. Officials are working with federal and state authorities to investigate the incident and restore normal operations, though details on the specific systems targeted and the source of the attack remain unclear.

Why it matters

Cyber attacks on local government IT systems can have serious consequences, disrupting essential public services and exposing sensitive data. This incident highlights the vulnerability of municipal technology infrastructure and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect against such attacks.

The details

According to county officials, the malware attack began impacting phone lines across Passaic County on Wednesday morning. Several other municipalities in the county have also experienced similar technology issues recently. The county's IT team is working to investigate and contain the issue, though no further updates have been provided since Wednesday evening.

  • The cyber attack began impacting Passaic County's phone lines on Wednesday morning.
  • Officials posted an announcement about the incident around 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

The players

Passaic County

The local government entity in Passaic County, New Jersey that has been the target of the malware attack.

Federal and state officials

Authorities that Passaic County officials are working with to investigate and resolve the cyber attack.

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What’s next

Authorities have not provided any details on the specific next steps they will take to investigate the source of the attack and restore normal operations, but resolving the technology issues and preventing future cyber incidents will be a top priority.

The takeaway

This cyber attack on Passaic County's IT systems underscores the growing threat that local governments face from malicious actors seeking to disrupt critical public services. Strengthening cybersecurity measures and improving coordination between municipal, state, and federal authorities will be crucial to mitigating such attacks in the future.