Information Technology Arm Of VA General Assembly Hit By Ransomware Attack

RICHMOND, VA — Hackers hit a Virginia legislative office with a ransomware attack, using an extremely sophisticated malware, according to reports.

The hackers successfully accessed the Division of Legislative Automated Systems, the state legislature’s information technology agency, on Friday, The Associated Press reported.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam had been briefed on the attack and directed executive branch agencies to offer help in “assessing and responding to this ongoing situation,” the governor’s spokeswoman told the AP.

The ransomware attack forced the shutdown of computer systems and websites for Virginia legislative agencies and commissions, including the Division of Capitol Police and the Division of Legislative Services, which is drafting bills and resolutions for introduction in the upcoming General Assembly session in January, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The executive branch was not affected by the attack, the governor's spokeswoman said.

Brett Callow, an analyst at the firm Emsisoft, told the AP that Virginia is the 74th state or local government hit by ransomware attacks in 2021. But it is first legislature that he has ever seen attacked.

“Honestly, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before,” Callow said.

Dave Burhop, executive director of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems, said in an email to legislative leaders obtained by the AP, that the outage "likely will not be resolved quickly."