Cyber Incident Victim: Washburn County

On August 6, 2026, Washburn County officials announced that the county had shut down all government systems in response to an ongoing cyberattack while confirming that 911 emergency services remained fully operational. The announcement was made by Lolita Olson, who serves as the Washburn County Board Chair, and included a direct statement that the county government was experiencing a cyberattack and had taken the step of shutting down its systems. Olson also emphasized that members of the public should continue to contact 911 for any emergency or non‑emergency needs, assuring them that those calls would be handled appropriately. Later the same day, the county released an update indicating that the cyber incident was under investigation and that qualified cybersecurity professionals had been engaged to assist with the response. The update noted that the county had become aware of the activity on the morning of August 6, 2026, and had immediately activated its incident response procedures to protect county systems and data.

As part of the response, the county began working closely with the cybersecurity experts and other appropriate partners to investigate the nature and scope of the activity, assess any potential impact, and determine how to safely restore affected technology services. To facilitate this work, county leadership decided to shut down county technology on August 6, 2026, explaining that the shutdown would allow personnel and incident response specialists to continue assessing affected systems while minimizing disruption to broader county operations. During the shutdown, staff and members of the public were warned that they might experience temporary interruptions to any county services that depend on internet access or communications via county phone lines, although the court system and county offices remained open for in‑person visits. The county also stated that it was actively working to restore impacted technology services as soon as they could be returned to operation safely, and that additional security measures had been put in place to help reduce the risk of further disruption while the investigation continued.

The update concluded by noting that the investigation remained ongoing and that the county was limited in the information it could share at that time, but promised to provide timely updates as verified facts became available. Officials reiterated that no immediate action was required from county staff or the public, and that if the investigation later determined that personal information had been affected or that further steps were needed, the county would communicate directly with any impacted individuals and provide appropriate guidance. Residents were advised to monitor the county’s official communication channels, including the website www.co.washburn.wi.us, for updates and to direct any calls to 911, which would route them to the appropriate department until normal phone service was restored. The county also indicated that updates would be sent to media outlets upon request. Throughout the statements, Washburn County emphasized that protecting the physical and digital safety and security of its staff and constituents remained its highest priority, expressed appreciation for public patience, and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the situation.