Cyber Attack Shuts Down Somerset County Email, Postpones Commissioner Meeting

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Email is down for Somerset County officials after a cybersecurity breach involving ransomware was reported Tuesday morning.

As a result, emails to county personnel can not be received or responded to for the time being. Additionally, Tuesday night’s Board of Commissioners meeting is postponed.

All county offices and phone lines are open and working and emergency 9-1-1-communications are unaffected and fully functional. Emergency services are available as usual throughout the county.

"With the exception of email, the county is performing normal functions. That said, we have activated our Emergency Operations Center and our Continuity of Operations of Government Plan," said County Administrator Collen Mahr. "It is our assumption that this situation will remain in effect at least for the rest of the week."

On March 31, New Jersey state government raised the state's risk level of cyber attacks to "elevated," saying the increase of cyber attacks from Russia is now considered higher than normal. Read More: Risk Of Russian Cyber Attacks Is Now Much Higher, State Of NJ Warns

That's because there is an increased risk of Russia conducting malicious cyber activity against the United States as a response to sanctions imposed by President Joe Biden and the U.S. government.

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