Minnesota activates National Guard as cyberattack on Saint Paul disrupts public services

In response to a significant cyberattack targeting the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz has deployed the state’s National Guard. The attack has caused considerable disruption to city operations and essential public services, although officials have not yet revealed the specific details of the incident. Saint Paul, home to over 300,000 residents, has joined the ranks of major cities facing increased threats from hackers and ransomware groups in recent years. Governor Walz, in a statement issued on Tuesday, explained that he authorized the involvement of the National Guard’s cyber units at the request of city officials. He noted that the scale and intricacy of the attack surpassed the city’s capability to manage the situation effectively. The National Guard's mission will focus on restoring critical services and ensuring the safety of the citizens of Saint Paul. During a press conference, Mayor Melvin Carter outlined the city's immediate response, which included taking government systems offline to mitigate the breach. This precautionary measure led to a widespread Wi-Fi outage across the city. While Mayor Carter reassured the public that the city does not hold extensive personal data on its residents, he acknowledged that there is a potential risk regarding the data of city employees that may have been compromised.