A ransomware attack has struck Anne Arundel County's government systems, disrupting public services and potentially compromising sensitive data. County officials detected the cyber incident on February 22, 2025, which has been attributed to the INC ransomware group.
While critical emergency services like 911 and 311 remain operational, the county's computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system used by first responders went offline at 9:45 a.m., affecting call management capabilities. County administrators received notifications that multiple terabytes of data have been exposed on a dark web platform.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have launched investigations into the incident. The county has not revealed whether it plans to engage with the attackers' demands.
This attack adds to Maryland's recent cyber challenges. Frederick Health experienced a ransomware attack in January 2025 that forced its emergency department to redirect ambulances and halt new patient admissions. In 2019, Baltimore City faced an $18 million recovery effort after refusing ransom demands in a RobinHood ransomware attack.
As cybersecurity experts continue raising alarms about threats to public infrastructure, Anne Arundel County officials are working to restore affected systems while maintaining essential public services. The county government has committed to keeping residents informed as the situation develops.