Malware attack disrupts Passaic County government IT systems

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A malware attack has disabled portions of the phone lines and IT systems of the Passaic County government in New Jersey. Officials have acknowledged the issue and are working to restore operations, though it remains unclear if any personal information was compromised in the incident.

Why it matters

Cyberattacks on government agencies can have significant impacts on public services and raise concerns about data security. Passaic County provides critical services to residents, so disruptions to phone and IT systems could hinder their ability to access those services.

The details

The Passaic County government reported that all of its phone lines are currently down due to the malware attack. Officials stated they are aware of the issue and working to resolve it as quickly as possible, but provided no further details on the extent of the IT systems impacted or the type of malware involved.

• The malware attack occurred on Tuesday, March 5, 2026.

What’s next

Officials have not provided a timeline for when the phone lines and IT systems will be fully restored. The county will likely need to investigate the source and nature of the malware attack to prevent future incidents and ensure the security of resident data.